One Killed, 20 Kidnapped As Bandits Invade Niger Communities

One person has been confirmed killed, three others are seriously injured, while 20 people have been kidnapped in a bandit raid on some communities in Borgu Local Government area of Niger State.

The Imam of the emir’s palace mosque simply called Malam Habibu was among those kidnapped.

It was the first of such invasion in the area since insurgency commenced across the state.

A competent source told THISDAY that the incident occurred at about 5.30pm on Saturday.

The bandits, who were said to be many, rode on motorcycles and carried sophisticated guns, cutlasses and knives.

“They blocked the road from Ibbi to New Bussa and attacked the villagers going and coming from the markets in both communities,” an eyewitness told THISDAY.

The bandits shot sporadically killing one person and kidnapped 20 others. In the stampede that followed, three people were injured.

The eyewitness, who confided in THISDAY, added that: “We did not know that the Imam was among those kidnapped until on Sunday morning when they (kidnappers) called the Emir and asked for the payment of N20 million for the release of the Imam.”