‘One killed, many abducted’ as bandits attack another Niger community

One person was reportedly killed when bandits launched separate attacks in Madaka community of Niger state on Friday.

TheCable gathered from two residents and a local vigilante member that several persons were abducted during the attacks in Rafi local government area (LGA).

The community is in the same LGA as Kagara where 42 people, mostly children, were taken hostage by bandits who attacked Government Science College (GSC) on Wednesday.

It is also where the bandits were said to have first camped before proceeding to the school.

The fresh attack, TheCable understands, took place at about 2pm when armed bandits waylaid villagers en route to a marriage ceremony along Madaka-Kagara road.

The gunmen subsequently ambushed another set of people returning from Madaka market.

The state police command did not immediately respond to an enquiry sent by TheCable.

“We don’t know the number yet but they were many that were taken away. They were going for marriage ceremony and were ambushed on their way and parked into the bush,” Zakari Mai, a member of the local vigilante, told TheCable.

Yunusa Acha, a resident who confirmed the incident, said one of the escapees informed them of the development.

He said: “The villagers went to Madaka market and on their way coming back, those bandits attacked them along the road and kidnapped them. Nobody knows the actual figure.

“Then, there was another attack like one hour after, against some people carrying their bride to a marriage ceremony along that same route. They were in a bus and the bandits packed all of them. We heard that one person was killed.”

The attack is coming despite a heavy security presence in Rafi LGA.