Justina Asishana, Minna
ARMED bandits are currently on rampage in Rafi local government area of Niger state as the villages in the local government area have been under attack for the past five days.
Over seven people including five vigilantes have been killed, several others injured while the villagers have fled from the communities for fear of further attacks.
Information reaching The Nation revealed that there have been three bandit attacks in the past five days in the local government as over five communities have been affected.
Some of the communities affected include Sabon Gari, Madaka, Kusherki, Jaraka and other surrounding villages on the eastern side of Kagara.
In Gidigori village in Kusherki district on Sunday evening, the bandits had attacked and spent over two hours exchanging fire with vigilantes, after the fire shoot out, two people were killed and several others injured.
Madaka and Sabon Gari bore the brunt of the armed bandits on Sunday evening and Monday morning as the bandits invaded the villages shooting sporadically and injuring a lot of people.
Tired of the incessant attacks of the bandits, the men of the local vigilante who are the only reliable security presence in the area decided to assembled themselves to counterattack the bandits.
However, sources told The Nation that the vigilantes had laid an ambush for the bandits but they possibly had an informant among them who leaked the plan of an ambush to the bandits who attacked and killed the five of the vigilantes on the spot.
After the killing of the vigilantes, the bandits went into the community to loot shops and steal over 100 cattle.
The Information Officer to the Rafi Local Government Chairman, Abubakar Umar who confirmed the attacks disclosed that all the villages have been deserted as the villagers have fled their homes.
A Source told The Nation that some of the villagers are currently been housed in Tegina following their flight from their homes.
Umar, who spoke on a phone interview with our correspondent said that the local government council has mobilized vigilantes to defend them calling on the security, state and federal governments to come to their rescue as the bandits are becoming overwhelming for the villagers to handle.
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He pointed out that there is a need for urgent government intervention as the rainy season and Ramadan are fast approaching stating that it will not augur well should the people stay in IDP camps then.
“Most of these people are farmers and with the rainy season and Ramadan approaching, it will not augur well if they continue to stay outside their homes. It will spell doom for the economic situation of the country and affect food sufficiency.”
When contacted the Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Inga said the government has deployed additional security operatives to the areas, saying that the security agents are on top of the situation.
The Chairman of the Rafi local government, Alhaji Ismaila Musa Modibo has also confirmed the attack lamenting that the situation is getting worse daily.
He said that for the past five days, the people have not slept a wink as they are currently at the mercy of these bandits.
“Apart from the loss of innocent lives almost on a daily basis, the people have lost everything to the bandits. I can tell you that the situation is better imagined than experienced, the entire local government is under siege despite the presence of security personnel”.
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