Bandits have reportedly abducted 20 women during an attack on a market
in Madaka community in Rafi LGA of Niger state.
Mallam Yunusa, a resident of the community, who confirmed the incident
on Friday, said the bandits invaded the market at about 4 p.m. on
Thursday.
Yunusa said more than 20 residents were also feared killed by the
bandits during the attack.
Yunusa said the bandits were sighted in a neighbouring community of
Kukkoki on Wednesday before they moved to Pangu Gari village where they
killed seven residents and also rustled some cattle.
“The attack in Madaka happened yesterday. There was another attack on
Wednesday at Pangu Gari, seven people were killed in that village,” he
said.
“Yesterday, the bandits invaded Madaka at about 4 pm. You know,
yesterday was Madaka’s market day, they stormed the market and opened
fire on the traders.
“They also entered the village. One of my friends, the bandits entered
his house and killed seven of his family members.
“The casualty figure is said to be about 30 to 40 people. Nobody has
been able to ascertain the exact figure of people who died.
Also confirming the attack, Ayuba Katako, chairman of Rafi LGA, said
more than 20 women were abducted by the bandits.
“The incident truly occurred, and there were a lot of casualties. We
lost over 20 people and over 20 women have been abducted and about seven
people are currently at the hospital.
“It happened yesterday in the afternoon. It was the market day of
Madaka. They burnt some of the houses, they burnt over 80 motorcycles,
and the people were devastated.
“Very few of them are in Madaka now but we have made concerted efforts
to ensure that normalcy is restored. As I speak with you now, I am
around the police headquarters.”
The chairman also confirmed that three people were killed during an
attack on Pangu Gari village on Wednesday.
“The bandits attacked Pangu Gari on Wednesday, they attacked some Fulani
herders and took away some of their cattle. They also killed three
people there,” he added.
When contacted, Wasiu Abiodun, the state police command spokesperson in
Niger, he said he would verify the incident and revert.
Abiodun was yet to get back as of the time of filing this report.
Mallam Yunusa, a resident of the community, who confirmed the incident
on Friday, said the bandits invaded the market at about 4 p.m. on
Thursday.
Yunusa said more than 20 residents were also feared killed by the
bandits during the attack.
Yunusa said the bandits were sighted in a neighbouring community of
Kukkoki on Wednesday before they moved to Pangu Gari village where they
killed seven residents and also rustled some cattle.
“The attack in Madaka happened yesterday. There was another attack on
Wednesday at Pangu Gari, seven people were killed in that village,” he
said.
“Yesterday, the bandits invaded Madaka at about 4 pm. You know,
yesterday was Madaka’s market day, they stormed the market and opened
fire on the traders.
“They also entered the village. One of my friends, the bandits entered
his house and killed seven of his family members.
“The casualty figure is said to be about 30 to 40 people. Nobody has
been able to ascertain the exact figure of people who died.
Also confirming the attack, Ayuba Katako, chairman of Rafi LGA, said
more than 20 women were abducted by the bandits.
“The incident truly occurred, and there were a lot of casualties. We
lost over 20 people and over 20 women have been abducted and about seven
people are currently at the hospital.
“It happened yesterday in the afternoon. It was the market day of
Madaka. They burnt some of the houses, they burnt over 80 motorcycles,
and the people were devastated.
“Very few of them are in Madaka now but we have made concerted efforts
to ensure that normalcy is restored. As I speak with you now, I am
around the police headquarters.”
The chairman also confirmed that three people were killed during an
attack on Pangu Gari village on Wednesday.
“The bandits attacked Pangu Gari on Wednesday, they attacked some Fulani
herders and took away some of their cattle. They also killed three
people there,” he added.
When contacted, Wasiu Abiodun, the state police command spokesperson in
Niger, he said he would verify the incident and revert.
Abiodun was yet to get back as of the time of filing this report.
