‘Three vigilantes killed’ as bandits attack communities in Niger state

Bandits have reportedly killed three members of the vigilante group during an attack on Unguwan Usman and Bassa villages in Shiroro LGA of Niger state.

Speaking with TheCable on Saturday, Jibril Alawa, president of the youth association in the community, said the bandits invaded Unguwan Usman at about 3 p.m. on Friday.

Alawa said the bandits burnt down houses and destroyed food items in the village.

He said two of the vigilante members who engaged the bandits died during the gun battle.

He said the third one who sustained injuries was rushed to the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) Specialist Hospital in Minna, the state capital, but was confirmed dead on Saturday morning.

The youth president said residents of Bassa village fled into the bush when the bandits left Unguwan Usman and headed towards Bassa.

“The bandits attacked Bassa village. The whole thing started yesterday when the bandits attacked Unguwan Usman also called Pulwaya,” he said.

“The local vigilante went after them but two of them were killed two instantly. Another vigilante who sustained injuries was taken to IBB Specialist Hospital but he later died. I was at the burial ground when I saw your message earlier.

“They (bandits) burnt down the entire houses in Unguwan Usman and their food items.

“People in Bassa started running away yesterday because they (bandits) went towards the town.  In fact, nobody slept in Bassa village last night, they all slept in the bush.

“Today, in the morning at about 8:30 am when people from Bassa started returning to the village, the bandits attacked them and started shooting sporadically. They also burnt down a lot of houses there.

“The situation is calm at the moment. The military personnel stationed at Allawa and some from Erena responded and the bandits ran away when they sighted the them.”

Kabir Mohammed, a traditional ruler in Erena town, also confirmed the attack to TheCable.

When contacted, Wasiu Abiodun, police spokesperson in Niger, said he would verify the incident.

He was yet to reach out as at the time of filing this report.