One Killed, over 50 Kidnapped as Bandits Storm Niger Communities

Anxiety as gunmen kidnap five in Edo

 Laleye Dipo in Minna and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city

One person was confirmed killed while more than 50 others, including women and children, have been kidnapped in separate bandits attacks on two Niger communities.

Similarly, anxiety has enveloped Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, as five people were reportedly kidnapped by suspected armed herdsmen, who as further gathered, have taken over the various farm roads in the area.

The dead person  in Niger was in Tsoho Kabula community in the Munya Local Government Area, where not less than 20 people were kidnapped and scores of cattle rustled.

The incident occurred between Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

The second attack took place in Girigori community of Rafi Local Government where not less than 35 people, mostly women and girls, were kidnapped on Thursday morning.

The attack at Tsoho Kabula, according to sources, spread to Zagzaga but the villagers were reported to have got wind of the impending invasion and disappeared into the bush.

According to a reliable source, the local vigilante that had provided safety for the people in the area were reported to have been asked to withdraw their service by yet unknown authority only for the bandits to invade the community a day after.

“Less than 24 hours after our men moved out, the bandits struck attacking our people who were not given any protection” the source said.

It was learnt that those kidnapped have been taken into hiding but the kidnappers are yet to make contact with their families.

As a result of the heightening insecurity in the area, the villagers are now moving out in large numbers to safer locations, especially Sarkinpawa, the headquarters of the local government thereby abandoning their farmlands in the process.

The report of the incident at Girigori is still sketchy but one of those that escaped being kidnapped told sympathisers that the gunmen did not kill anyone.

“They only kidnapped people, especially women and girls,” he said.

When contacted, the Permanent Secretary in Charge of Security, Mr. Tariq Abdulkhareem, said that he has not received the report

Abdulkhareem said: “Give me some time for me to contact the relevant agencies and I will get back to you later.” But he did not do so despite repeated calls to his cell phones, which were not responded to.

The State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP. Wasiu Abiodun, also did not respond to calls to his cell phone or replied text message sent to him.

Meanwhile, anxiety has enveloped Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, as five people were reportedly kidnapped by suspected armed herdsmen, who as further gathered, have taken over the various farm roads in the area.

It was gathered that while one person was kidnapped last Tuesday, four others were abducted last Wednesday.

This incident happened barely one week after a group from the area, the Okpameri Descendants Union (ODU), condemned what it said was a renewed onslaught by suspected kidnappers and bandits masquerading as herdsmen on Igarra/Ibillo road, especially around Uneme-Nekhua-Ayetoro/Ogbe-Okpameri Junction axis of the road in Akoko-Edo LGA of the state.

Confirming the incident, a top commander of the vigilance group in the area said they have been combing the forests in the area, adding that: “They are just picking (abducting) people everywhere, especially around farm road behind the Technical College hostel and behind the Gloryland School in Igarra.

“They kidnapped four people yesterday (Wednesday) and one a day before. They contacted one of the families of the victims and were asking for N12 million. They have called only once and since then, they have not called till now. 

“About a week ago, they kidnapped four people near Aiyegunle where they killed one person, and before then, they also kidnaped one person in the same farm road and collected N1 million before he was released, and from the testimonies of the victims, they said they are Fulani herders.”

Speaking on the ugly incident, the traditional ruler of Igarra/Akuku Clan, HRH Oba Adeche Saiki, the Otaru of Igarra, called on the state government to enforce the ban on open grazing in the state, which has been passed into law.

When contacted, the Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chidi Nwabuzor, said he was yet to receive such report from the police division in the area, promising however to get back as soon as information gets to him, which he was not able to do until press time.