From Al-sirajdeen Alhameed, Minna.
In a renewed onslaught against the locals in Galadima Kongo, Erena Chukuba, and Allawa in Shiroro local government area armed bandits have killed 27 persons mostly women and children, abducting dozens of others in their
It was further gathered that another deadly attack carried out by the gunmen also claimed the lives of 17 people in the early hours of Saturday.
The armed bandits numbering over 60 had invaded Guni, Zanzaga, Dazza, communities in Munya local government where they abducted 45 women and children.
National Update finding indicated that some of the Communities in Shiroro and Munya local government areas in Niger State, have been under siege by the armed bandits in the last four days.
The armed men have so far displaced the locals as they have set their houses and farmlands ablaze just as they gun down many others including a blind man.
The gun men who said to have stormed the Communities in a large convoy of motorcycles with each carrying three passengers wrecked havoc and held the communities hostage for several hours with out any respite from security agencies.
Already most of the affected communities in the two local government areas are now ghost towns as the villagers have taken refuge at the internally displaced persons camp (IDP) in Central primary school in Gwada.
Armed bandits activities in some communities in Niger State is on the increase as within the last three weeks not less than ten villages have suffered untold casualties as a result of the deadly attacks on them by these criminal elements.
Apparently piqued by the incessant assault on their communities by the armed men, the concerned citizens of Shiroro youths raised the alarm over the new wave of increasing cases of armed bandits activities in Shiroro local government.
In a press statement signed by the spokesperson of the group Comrade Ibrahim Ango Kurebe, made available to journalists in Minna at the weekend, they condemned in strong terms the deliberate refusal of the government to bring an end to the unabated activities of armed banditry and cattle rustling in the areas.
He described as painful the way and manner in which the operational activities of armed men have displaced villagers from their home and are now taking refuge in IDP camp.
“The armed bandits have displaced our people from their homes. These villagers can no longer harvest their farm products. These villagers who are mostly farmers have abandoned their farm lands as the armed men warned them to stay away from their farms.
“Yet the government has failed in its responsibility of protecting lives and property of the citizens. “We are calling on the relevant security agencies to live up to their duty by protecting the people from the attacks on them by the armed bandits” he stated.