Gunmen ‘rape’ pregnant woman in attack on Niger community

Gunmen have reportedly raped a pregnant woman during an attack on Dnakudna, a village in Shiroro LGA of Niger.

Speaking with TheCable on Monday, Salis Sabo, spokesperson of the Coalition of Shiroro Youth Association (COSA), a group, said the attack occurred on December 21.

Sabo said the gunmen stormed the village after residents, who had earlier fled the community, returned to harvest their farm produce.

He said the pregnant woman could not run from the attackers because of her condition, adding that she was raped in the process.

“It was Dnakudna village under Galkogo ward that was attacked. The incident happened on Wednesday. The residents had earlier fled the village but returned because of the harvest,” he said.

“Unfortunately, they attacked them when they heard they returned to the village. The other villagers were able to run when they heard the bandits were coming, but the pregnant woman could not run.

“She was raped but she didn’t die. She is still alive. She was taken to a hospital in Zumba town and is currently at the IDP camp in Zumba.”

Also confirming the attack, Muhammad Tukur, coordinator of Erena axis, Shiroro Youth Development Forum, said the gunmen have moved to Pandogori area of the state.

“The report is true, though there are many attacks from those areas — in Chukuba and the villages around — and we learned that the bandits are currently in Pandogari now,” he said.

When contacted, Wasiu Abiodun, Niger police spokesperson, promised to update TheCable when he has details of the attack.

There has been no further information from the Niger police command as of the time of this report.