Fears have gripped communities across three Local Government Areas in zone C (Niger-North); Rijau, Mariga and Kontagora as armed bandits takes over the entire area bringing vehicular and pedestrian movements to a standstill.
Already, Rijau town is under siege as the state devil gun men operate in broad daylight unchallenged in two or three in a bike armed with guns and other sophisticated weapons, reports Daily Independent.
Sources from the affected areas told journalists how most families abandoned their homes in Rijau town and environs for safer haven due to encroachments by the armed bandits in broad daylight.
The suspected bandits, numbering over two hundred with over a hundred motorcycles, the source further explained invaded the communities and tried to mop up rustled cattle between Mariga and Rijau.
The eyewitness narrated how the bandits, suspected to have migrated from Zamfara State, carrying sophisticated weapons including AK-47 and other dangerous weapons were seen moving from one community to the other to gather cows belonging to the people who have fled from their homes.
Except for few vigilantes who are handicapped as they could not challenge the armed bandits due to their numbers, our correspondent learnt that the bandits were intimidating the people by challenging whoever dared to stand on their way as they continue in their nefarious activities.
The armed bandits in their numbers are allegedly targeting to enter Kontagora town to continue in their nefarious activities in the town as no security agencies anywhere near the vicinity where the criminals operate unchallenged.
The communities are appealing to Governor Mohammed Umar Bago to come to their rescue by mobilizing security forces to end the siege by the armed bandits.
The armed bandits, according to one of the sources are busy raiding houses, shops, filling stations and looting people’s properties with occasional firing of shots to scare away possible intruders.
Efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger State Command, SP Wasiu A. Abiodun to react to the invasion did not yield desired results as at the time of this report.
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