Gunmen kill 13, abduct 2 village heads in Niger State

Unknown gunmen on Monday night attacked Kukoki community in Kagara Local Government Area of Niger State, reports said.

An eyewitness said the brutal attack on members of the community claimed the lives of 13 people, and several other persons sustaining injuries.

It was gathered that there has been pandemonium at Kagara town, the Kukoki villagers who fled during the night attack have started relocating to the local government headquarters.

“Many people are presently leaving Kagara town as there is rumour making the rounds that the bandits are presently on their way to Kagara, to also launch another deadly attack,” a source said.

In a related development, armed bandits, on Tuesday, abducted the district head of Madaka village, together with his wife and grandson.

The gunmen also kidnapped the Dagachi (Ward Head) of Madaka who later escaped.

A top official of the Niger State Government said the situation is under control as joint security personnel have been deployed to Kukoki and other flashpoints of banditry attacks and kidnapping incidents across the State.

The deployment of security officers, he believes, will help them restore peace to Kukoki, Kagara town and other troubled parts of the state.