Death toll in Niger attack rises to 27

The death toll in Saturday’s attack by herders on the Island community of Epogi, Gbara ward in Mokwa local government area of Niger state has risen to 27, Daily Trust learnt yesterday.

Director General of the state emergency management agency, Malam Ahmed Ibrahim Inga, said reports from the native indicated that four bodies were recovered floating on the river on Sunday.

Inga also said two among the six natives wounded during the attack died on Monday thereby bringing the casualty figure to 27.

It would be recalled that 20 people were killed, when herders attacked the community, while seven people sustained various degrees of injuries and were taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Bida out of which one died the same day thereby bringing the figure to 21.

Inga said the community leaders were still unable to account for many natives especially children.

Meanwhile, the deputy governor, Ahmed Muhammad Ketso, paid an on-the-spot-assessment visit to the area on Monday.

Few women, children and some men were seen packing what remains of their property to neighbouring villages where they earlier ran for safety.

A community leader, Alhaji Abubakar Taoheed Tahir, said natives have deserted the community following further threat of attack by the herders.

He debunked the claim that the attack was a reprisal.

The Niger State Commissioner of Police Zubairu Muazu, who was on the entourage of the deputy governor, described the attack as a “heinous crime,” while assuring that the perpetrators would be tracked down and brought to book.