’13 residents’ kidnapped as gunmen attack another community in Niger

Gunmen have reportedly kidnapped 13 residents, following an attack on Maijaki village in Lapai LGA of Niger state.

Speaking with TheCable on Friday, Abdullahi Umar, spokesperson to the Lapai council chairman, confirmed the development.

The development comes days after gunmen attacked the Abdulsalami Abubakar General Hospital in Gulu, Lapai LGA, killed two persons, and abducted some health workers.

Umar said the latest attack occurred around midnight on Thursday while residents were asleep, adding that security operatives have been deployed to the village and other communities in the area.

“Yes, that is true. I don’t know the exact time the attack occurred, but it was at night,” he said.

“Security agencies have been mobilised to the area. There is security presence in the area and other areas that share boundary with a forest in Kpashimi where the bandits are believed to have their camps.”

Also confirming the attack, Aliyu Gimba, a resident of the community, said the attackers abducted 13 residents, adding that some persons also sustained gunshot injuries.

“The attack took place at about 1am on Friday. It happened at midnight. Many residents sustained injuries, because the bandits were shooting sporadically,” he said.

“They went away with about 13 people in this Maijaki village in Lapai.”

Efforts to reach Wasiu Abiodun, police spokesperson in the state, were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls and messages.

There have been attacks in states across the the country, incuding in Niger, where many residents have been killed, while several others have been displaced across LGAs in the state.