Fourteen vigilantes who left Niger State to fight bandits in Kebbi have died in battle.
The Nation learnt that the vigilantes based in Rijau council of Niger State, responded to an SOS from their colleagues in Kebbi whose location came under bandit attack, and were gunned down by the hoodlums.
“Residents of Darin Daji in Sakaba local government area of Kebbi State were under attack by bandits and the vigilantes sent an SOS to their colleagues in Tungan Magajiya community of Rijau local government,” a source told The Nation yesterday.
Chairman of Rijau council Alhaji Bello Bako said, “15 vigilantes were killed when they went to assist their colleagues in Kebbi State to fight the bandits who were attacking the community. The attack was not in Rijau local government; they only went to support their colleagues and unfortunately met their death,” Bako told The Nation.
It was learnt that 52 people were killed in the attack which occurred on Monday morning in Sakaba local government area of Kebbi, which shares a boundary with Rijau council in Niger.
Five people were killed and others seriously injured on Monday in Paikpa village in Munya council of Niger State.
The gunmen invaded the community at night, shooting as they came on motorcycles.
Several cattle were rustled while an unconfirmed report claimed that some people were abducted.
The attack in Munya was confirmed by the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane.