No fewer than twenty people have been killed by suspected terrorists when they invaded the Bassa community in Shiroro local government area of Niger state.

It was learnt that those who were killed were young men between the ages of 20 years to 35 years living in the community.

Sources told The Nation that the terrorists who were numbered over 50 were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons and operated freely during the attack which occured between 3 pm to 7pm. 

It was also learnt that after beheading the victims, the gunmen asked the members of those killed to carry the headless bodies while they took videos and pictures of them. 

The terrorists had selected 20 adults and tried to recruit the 10 young men who refused which resulted to their deaths while the other 10 were shot at close range. 

Residents of the community believe that they were invaded by Boko Haram insurgents and not just terrorists.

“They told us that anybody who refused to be recruited into their fold will be given a similar treatment. They said they used the ten beheaded youths as an example. These people belong to the Boko Haram.

“They told us that we brought it upon ourselves as they had warned us to leave the community for them but we refused. We were told that it is either our children join them or we vacate the community”, a source said.

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The state government or the state Police Command have not said anything about the recent incident. The number of the Niger state PPRO was not going when calls were put across to him.

However, the Senator representing Niger East Senatorial district, Mohammed Sani Musa confirmed the killing lamenting that his heart continues to bleed as his people are being killed like animals.

He described the killings of the villagers especially the beheading of the young boys as barbaric, heartless and inhumane.

The Senator expressed worry over the attacks which is coming at the beginning of the wet season farming saying that farming is the only occupation of the people and if they keep being attacked, they will.lose their means of livelihood.

“This is my darkest moment as the representative of the people of Niger East Senatorial district. I am very helpless at the moment. My people, including men, women and children are being killed like animals.

“The question is that what do they want from the people. These are harmless and innocent peasant farmers. Do they want to chase my people away from their lands. 

“Only three weeks ago, a group of bandits invaded Kuchi Community, killing seven security agents and went away with about 150 people. Up till this moment the entire Kuchi Community remained deserted”, he added.

…gives villagers June 15 as deadline to raise ransom

Terrorists have abducted 30 people from Kakuru in Munya local government area and 26 people from Adogo Mallam and Tunga Kawo communities in Shiroro local government area of Niger state.

The abductions occured on Sunday and Monday in the different communities in Niger state.

 Kakuru community where 30 people were abducted is about five kilometers from Kuchi community where 150 people were abducted last week.

The terrorists who abducted the 150 villagers from Kuchi community are demanding for N150 million ransom for the release of the abductees making it N1 million per person and have given the families of the abductees a deadline of 15th June to pay up the ransom or five of the victims would be killed on a daily basis until the ransom is paid.

The terrorists had released a man whose wife and four children were among the abductees asking him to go and source for N60 million for the release of his family members.

The Nation learnt that the community had initially offered N60,000 for the release of each victim which was rejected, they raised the money to N100,000 which was also rejected by the terrorists.

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A source in the community said that the terrorists claimed that the money offered by the community was not up to the amount they use in hiring their guns or buying bullets disclosing that they will not reduce the ransom from what they had demanded for.

“The entire community is in mourning mood right now because there is no way that the people can afford this amount and unfortunately there is no any effort from anywhere to rescue the people.

“Since this abduction started three weeks ago, no government official or security agents has visited the community. The government is aware of the situation but nothing has been done”, he added.

The chairman of Munya local government council Alhaji Aminu Najume confirmed the latest abduction of the additional 30 people and the demand of ransom from the terrorists.

“Only two people were released to go and source for money for the release of their family members. A man who was kidnapped alongside his wife and three children was asked to go look for the money.

“Another one is an old man who was released on health ground but his two children and their wives are being held and was equally asked to go and source for money for their release”, he said.

The chairman lamented that there is no security in the community since the attack occured adding that the community is porous because of the absence of security.

The Niger state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) also confirmed the abductions of the persons in Shiroro local government area. 

The Director General of NSEMA, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah  in a statement said, “The Agency is also in receipt of reports of persistant banditry activities at Shiroro and Mashegu local government areas. 

“On Sunday, a village called Adogo Mallam was attacked, six persons were kidnapped, while on Monday, Tunga Kawo communities located three kilometres away from Erena of Shiroro was attacked where over 20 persons were kidnapped with hundreds of cows rustled,” he said. 

Four members of the Joint Security Taskforce stationed in Kuchi community in Munya local government area and three villagers were killed when terrorists invaded the community on Friday night.

About 200 villagers were also abducted during night attack which began at 7 pm and ended at about 11 pm. All the shops in the community were burgled and looted as the terrorists made away with all the goods and drinks. 

Sources in the community said that terrorists were over 300 and operated despite the heavy downpour in different parts of the State on Friday.

The sources disclosed that the people were not aware of the attack until it was too late because of the rains and thunderstorms. 

They added that the terrorists went from house to house to abduct villagers. 

“The terrorists overpowered the security agents, there was no way the security agents could have withstood the bandits because the bandits came in about 100 motorcycles and each carrying at least three people. They were all heavily armed.

“Again, there was no reinforcement for the security agents on ground untill this morning when some security people came, but the havoc had already been done. They operated all through inside the rain,” the source added.

Chairman of Munya local government, Mallam Aminu Najume confirmed the latest attack.

He said four security agents, including local vigilantes were killed during the attack adding that several others were injured but the number cannot be ascertained because several of the people ran into the bush. 

“The bandits moved from house to house and dispossessing people of their belongings. They also abducted about 150 villagers, including women and went away with them inside the rain. Throughout the operation by the bandits, no assistance came from anywhere.

“Honestly, the Council is overwhelmed with the current situation. I am not thinking straight as I speak with you because my people have lost their sleep, they have been forced out of the community,” he stressed. 

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He blamed the continuous onslaught by the terrorists on communities in the council on the failure of the Kaduna State Government to take concrete actions. 

According to him: “If Kaduna State is doing what Niger State is doing, the situation would have been addressed.

“These people usually come from Kaduna state to operate in Niger state and return back. They move in their hundreds and yet the security agents don’t see them, even when the villagers alert them, no action is taken.

“Look at yesterday’s attack, for over three hours, there was no reinforcement from anywhere. They out numbered the Joint Security Taskforce and succeeded in killing four of them, including some villagers,” he lamented. 

The Defence Headquarters says troops on operations across the country killed 253 terrorists and arrested 172 criminals in the past week.

It said troops also rescued 206 kidnap victims during several operations.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, announced this in a statement yesterday.

He said troops recovered 251 assorted weapons and 4,113 assorted ammunition from terrorists and other criminals.

The weapons recovered, according to the Defence spokesperson are one GPMG, 118 AK47 rifles, 54 locally fabricated gun, 47 Dane guns, six pump action guns, two locally fabricated pump action guns, five double barrel guns, four single barrel guns, four locally fabricated pistol, four Improvised Explosive Device (IED), 60mm mortar tube, two AK butts, MRAP and one bandolier.

The ammunition and other items recovered, according to Gen. Buba are 2,047 rounds of 7.62mm special ammo, 942 rounds of 7.62mm NATO, 98 rounds of 9mm ammo, 342 rounds of 7.62 x 54mm, 334 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm, 252 rounds of 7.62 x 51mm, 110 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ball, 299 live cartridges, 32 magazines, 2 baofeng radios, two KYD radios, 8 vehicles, 41 motorcycles, 27 bicycles, 41 mobile phones and the sum of N74,702,320.00.

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The defence spokesperson said troops of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), a military operation against oil thieves in the Niger Delta region, destroyed 75 illegal refining sites, recovered 1,047,050 litres of stolen crude and 205,550 litres of illegally refined diesel.

Gen. Buba said troops also destroyed 22 dugout pits, 37 boats, 70 drums, four receivers, four reservoirs, 29 storage tanks, and arrested 15 oil thieves.

He said the operations across the country were a testament of the tireless effort of the military to prevent anarchy, unrest and national security destabilisation.

“For these reasons, the armed forces are deserving of the pride of place as the nation‘s symbol of national unity and resilience,” Gen. Buba said.

“Based on the foregoing, it is instructive for citizens to extend utmost respect for their armed forces, rather than degrade the institution.

“It would be counterproductive and amounts to self-sabotage to do otherwise,” he added.