Bandits go on 14-hour rampage

ARMED bandits have killed six people in two local government areas of Niger State, Nigeria, in an attack that lasted 14 hours.

The attack took place from 10pm on Tuesday until noon on Wednesday.

Bandits killed five people and injured five others in the Manta and Jiko communities in the Shiroro local government area, while one person was killed in the Madaka community in the Rafi area.

More than 600 people, mostly women and children from the Manta and Jiko communities sought refuge at a local primary school in the state’s capital, Minna.

The attack was reportedly carried out by 50 armed men on motorcycles.

The bandits also kidnapped 13 people during their rampage.

The director-general for the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Ibrahim Inga, was not ready to comment at the time.

Local vigilantes said they tried to chase off the bandits but retreated when they noticed a helicopter hovering in the air.

“We beat a retreat when we saw the helicopter because we were afraid that they may mistake us for the bandits and bomb us.”

This was not the first attack on these communities. The last incident took place just four days earlier when the Madaka community was attacked on Easter Sunday. Armed bandits raided Maikujeri, killing one person, injuring a pastor and raping a young girl.

Last month, 29 security officials in Niger were reportedly killed by suspected armed bandits.

The officials belonged to various enforcement agencies including the Nigerian army, the national police force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).