Just when Zamfara and Katsina states appear to be having some respite from incessant bloodletting as a result of armed banditry, the tide seems to be tilting towards Niger and neighbouring states whose communities are being soaked with innocent blood from unbridled killing by the bandits. Some communities in Niger State and neighbouring Kaduna State have lately come under serious premeditated armed banditry which left many dead and scores injured while others were held captive. The situation has already induced a humanitarian crisis as thousands of residents of the affected communities have fled their homes and are now taking refuge in an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The communities affected include Katarma and Kuduru in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, as well as Ingu Kasa, Anguwan Bussa, Galuwi, Almujere, Toko, Galuwi Anguwan Zarumai and Anguwab Kwata communities in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State. Other recently affected communities include Kudodo, Galapai and Nakpala, all in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The bandits recently attacked Senator David Umaru’s community, Kaure, Kwaki Ward in Shiroro, where they killed eight residents. Four soldiers were also killed in another community, and a few days later, another attack was launched against more communities including Munya Local Government Area from where the chief iman of Beni Central Mosque, Mallam Umar Mohammed, was abducted. Twenty other members of the community were said to have been kidnapped in the process. Marauding bandits seize residents, property According to residents, over 50 of the bandits moved from one community to another, dispossessing people of their belongings including cattle, and moved to Kudami in Paikoro Local Government Area in the early hours of the next day where they caused mayhem. There, 20 members of the community were also kidnapped. About 32 other people were reportedly kidnapped in a separate attack while 2,000 cows were rustled in Kusuku community in Shiroro Local Government Area.
The chairman of the local government area, Comrade Sulaiman Dauda Chukuba, told newsmen in Minna that the incident ocurred at about 3:00pm penultimate on Saturday when residents were on their way to a village market in four vehicles. Then another attack on Kufofo and Lakpma axis of Shiroro Local Government Area led to the death of three other persons.
Residents flee for life Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that residents of the communities thereafter fled to other neighbouring communities for safety while some of the injured are receiving treatment at different health centres around the area. It was gathered that the bandits had prior to the incident, been chased away from Munya Local Government Area. Heavily armed bandits were sighted moving around at Kusasu in Shiroro from about 6:00am till about 6:00pm behind a river bank, trying to cross the river near the Shiroro Hydro Power Dam and River Kaduna with their cattle. “It was at the boundary between Kaduna State and Munya and Shiroro Local Government Areas of Niger State. We are calling on the government and security agencies to come to our aid because of the dangers posed to us by the forests in Alawa in the local government as well as the forests in Sarkin Pawa, Kusaba forest and Dogo Gona, all in Munya LGA of Niger State,” the local government chairman said.
He further said, “The bandits had a very fierce gun duel with a detachment of mobile policemen deployed to Malfa, but upon the realization that the police had superior firepower, they called for reinforcement from somewhere, after which they divided themselves into groups on about 53 motorcycles and were able to withstand the policemen who were about 38 at Erena area of Shiroro LGA.
After the reinforcement, the police went back because of perceived shortage of arms and ammunition to further confront them.” It is believed by residents that most of the bandits attacking Niger communities are said to be those fleeing from Zamfara and Kaduna states because the attacks have been in border communities between Niger and Kaduna states. More attacks, more refugees Over 2,000 persons are said have been rendered homeless and are taking refuge at an Internally displaced persons camp in Shiroro Local Government Area and Sarkin Pawa Primary School with yet another population in Munya Local Government. At the Dr. Idris Ibrahim Primary School are thousands of victims taking refuge, most of them women and children who live under harsh conditions without hope of when they would return home. Among them are pregnant women, two of who gave birth at the camp. The two women according to the council chairman, are Jemima Buhari and Zarau Bashiru, indigenes of Mazuku and Mazuga communities respectively.
Daily Trust
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