Bandits attack Niger community, kill 10

Bandits have attacked Wayam community in Sabon-Gari district of Rafi Local Council in Niger State, killing 10 people in the early hours of Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Guardian learned that the incident occurred in the morning while the people were preparing for their daily work, during which houses and foodstuffs were burned down.

It was gathered that the bandits rode on motorcycles in large numbers, shooting indiscriminately to scare the residents. Three were killed on the spot, and two women were slaughtered for rejecting their advances to have carnal knowledge of them. Five others died later from bullet wounds.

A resident of the community, who spoke to journalists on the phone but requested anonymity, revealed that the entire community was deserted as a result of the attack due to the lack of security presence in the area. All the deceased persons have been buried amidst the tears of their loved ones.

It was further stressed that the attackers always retreat to Kaduna State after their operations because the communities border Kaduna through the Birnin Gwari axis of that state.

It was recalled that six months ago, bandits attacked Madaka community, a few kilometers from Wayam, where about sixty people were also gunned down.

However, the spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, S.P Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report.