Gunmen kill soldier, vigilantes, others in Niger State

Some armed men attacked communities in Paikoro and Munya Local Government Areas of Niger State, killing soldiers, village heads, and medical practitioners while abducting over 60 people, including women and children.

Gunmen attacked the neighboring communities of Beni in Munya Local Government and Adunu in Paikoro Local Government in two different groups at about 2pm and stormed from houses, burning money, food and other valuables.

In Beni, the group killed the village chief, Salihu Ahmed, when he saw him returning from his farm and kidnapped about 20 people, mostly women and children.

Also in Adunu, a medical practitioner, Joshua Bitrus, was killed after he tried to run into the bush when he saw armed men. More than 40 people including women and children, and a retired police officer, Moses Tanko, aka Arada System, were kidnapped.

Sources in the community said people who could pay between N10,000 and N20,000, regardless of old or new naira notes were released by the gunmen.

However, it was gathered that the gunmen after storming the two communities, were ambushed by the Joint Security Task Force in Sarkin Pawa on their way to their hideout in Kaduna State and a soldier was killed in the shootout. Also killed was a member of a vigilante group. Several members of the vigilante were injured in the clash, residents said.

Two patrol vehicles of members of the Joint Security Task Force were destroyed by gunmen with their windshields and tires burst with bullets.

According to the source, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, an unspecified number of gunmen were killed during the gunfight with security personnel.

The state police command has yet to issue a statement on the incident, but the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Emmanuel Umar, said he was aware of the incident but was yet to get details of the attack. He promised to issue a statement later.