UMAR YUNUSA
Many persons are said to be missing after suspected gunmen raid Chiri, Gini and Fuka communities of Shiroro and Munya local government areas of Niger State.
It was gathered that bandits came into the communities on motorcycles on Saturday evening, shooting sporadically as the villagers, who were gripped with fear flee for safety.
The attack happened barely 48 hours after Deputy Governor Ahmed Ketso visited an Internally Displaced Peoples camp in Gwada in Shiroro LGA, where he lamented that the security issue in the state was overwhelming.
Chairman of the Niger Concerned Citizens, Alhaji Muhammad Awaisu Wana, confirmed the attack while speaking in a radio programme.
“10 out of 15 wards in Shiroro local government council were under attacks by bandits”, lamented Wana.
He stated that Gwada, Kuta and Sarkin Pawa in Shiroro and Munya LGAs have become home of bandits.
According to him, eight of the wards under bandits control are in riverine areas, adding there are about 80,000 IDPs in the state.
The youth leader appealed to the Federal Government to come to their rescue to enable them to return home ahead of this year’s farming season.
Wana said there would be shortage of food in the state and country if the banditry continues unabated.
The co-Convener of Concerned Shiroro Youths, Sani Abubakar Kokki, also confirmed the attack in Gini, Fuka and Chiri communities.
According to Kokki, Gini, Fuka and Chiri communities were raided simultaneously by bandits.
“In Chiri, there was high number of abduction among villagers adding that the actual figure of abductee were not obtained, Kokki said
He also said many people sustained various degrees of injuries, destruction of houses and food stores.
Police in the state is yet to confirm this report.