Bandits On Rampage In Niger State, Kill 38 And Kidnap Scores Within 48 Hours

By Sola Omoniyi Lagos

Bandits have gone on the rampage in communities in the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, killing not less than 38 villagers and kidnapping scores of others within two days.

The gunmen raided Katako village in Rafi Local Government Area on Friday, where they killed 25 people before raiding Kusherki town in the same local government killing 13 people on Saturday.

The terrorists stormed the popular Mariga Market in Mariga Local Government Area attacking and injuring scores of traders as well as rustling their cattle and making away with the sales of the traders.

The number of people kidnapped could not be immediately ascertained, but one of the traders who escaped with injuries said “they are many.”

The witness said the bandits stormed the market riding three of them on motorcycles with each clutching AK-47 rifles.

“They shot sporadically into the air to scare the traders with the bullets hitting and injuring some of the traders” the eyewitness said on condition of anonymity.