Three people have been killed and 28 abducted by gunmen in Farin-Shinge, Kulho, Jigawa and Dogo Fadama communities of Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The abductions and killings were carried out from Friday
afternoon to Saturday morning in the communities.
The Vice-Chairman of Kontagora Local Government Area, Aliyu
Makiga, who confirmed the attack on the Farin Shinge community, said that the
gunmen came to Tegina in large numbers to carry out the attack.
“They kidnapped a lot of people, some have been released
while others are still with them,” he said.
Makiga revealed that the gunmen have demanded seven 50
litres jerry cans of petrol, packs of Viju Milk and other drinks as a ransom
for the abductees from the Farin-Shinge community.
“They are demanding a ransom of seven 50 litres jerry cans
of petrol, Viju Milk and other drinks,” he said.
Another group of gunmen were said to have attacked Jigawa,
Dogo Fadama and surrounding communities, killing two people while four others
were abducted.
According to Umar Mohammed, a resident of Jigawa community,
the gunmen conducted a house-to-house search, rustling cattle and abducting
people.
Mohammed said that though the attack took the community
unaware, the majority of the residents of the community were able to escape
when the gunmen arrived.
In the Kulho community, the gunmen began the attack at
around 3.30pm and ended the operation at about 6pm.
A resident named Tanko Kulho was shot dead and 16 people
were abducted while shops were looted and over 18 motorcycles stolen by the
gunmen.
A resident in Kulho, Abdulrahman Adamu who confirmed the
attack said that six of his family members including his three elder brothers
were among those who were abducted.
“We were all seated at the market square when we saw many
motorcycles carrying at least three people on each and they are well harmed
with AK-47 rifles. The operation started around 3.48pm and they left Kulho at
around 6.07pm.
“Many people were abducted. Six of my family members were
abducted, they include my elder brothers Yakubu Kulho, Gambo Kulho, Haruna Nda
kulho; my younger brother, Baba Nda Karami; my nephew, Mohammed Gaddafi, and my
elder brother’s wife, Salaha Haruna Kulho. Six of them in my family were
taken,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, had not returned our correspondent’s call as he promised.