5 killed, 35 Abducted, As Gunmen Invade 17 Communities In Niger

At least five persons were confirmed dead yesterday, while 35 were abducted, following the invasion of 17 communities in Shiroro and Rafi local government areas of Niger State by gunmen.

Vanguard gathered that the invasion of the communities took place midnight Thursday.

Spokesman of Niger State Emergency Management Agency, NSEMA, Ibrahim Audi, who confirmed the development, said: “About 3,500 are currently displaced and they are now being camped at Kagara Central Primary School and Pandogari Primary School.”

The Agency said that the state government had provided some palliatives in form of food items and sleeping materials, adding that relief materials would be distributed to the affected people within the week.

“NSEMA has activated the temporal camps with profiling of the affected persons and health personnel have been deployed to the two camps, while the state government has ordered the provision of all requirements for camp operation,” he declared.

No official report concerning the development yet from the State Police Command and efforts to contact the Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Abubakar Mohammed proved abortive.