JUST IN: Armed bandits kidnap 50 passengers in Niger state
- Another day, another round of abductions by armed bandits in Niger state
- This time, passengers in three commercial vehicles were whisked away by the armed gangs
- Nigerians have been reacting to the latest abduction coming out from the north-central state
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Daily Trust is reporting that at least, 50 passengers have been reportedly kidnapped by bandits on Tuesday, March 2 along the Tegina-Minna road in the Rafi local government area of Niger state.
According to the report, sources in the area revealed that the bandits blocked the road at Kundu town, a few kilometres from Zungeru town when three commercial vehicles were stopped and the passengers and drivers whisked away.
The Nation reports that another group of bandits kidnapped an unspecified number of villagers at Gidigori town in the same local government on the same day.
They were said to have burnt five cars and carted away valuables during the raid.
Source: UGC
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In another incident, one person was killed while several others were kidnapped when the bandits raided Manta town in the Shiroro local government a day earlier.
The bandits also ransacked the houses of the villagers, stealing foodstuff and other valuables items.
Some Nigerians have been reacting to the latest abduction by the armed bandits via social media.
Farouk Muhammad wrote:
“It will be crazy to think we've seen the last of it. Not as long as they keep getting paid.”
Dada Stephen wrote:
“If they keep paying them, they will not stop, they will keep asking for more.”
Meerah Fagan wrote:
“Niger state traditional rulers need to rise up and reject this. Fulani bandits should go back to where they came from they can’t turn Niger state into Zamfara and Borno!”
Sola Adesoye wrote:
“I thought President Muhammadu Buhari said there would be no more kidnapping or was he referring to only school children.”
Legit.ng recently reported that armed bandits seem to have overtaken some local government areas in Niger state at the detriment of the residents' safety.
Almost on a daily basis, the bandits overrun communities in these local governments, and worst still, many are not reported by the media, because they are hard-to-reach areas.
Niger state has the largest landmass in Nigeria, making it difficult for the country's overwhelmed security agencies to rescue locals been randomly abducted and killed by the gunmen.
Meanwhile, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) on Thursday, February 25, canvassed for specific prayers against kidnappers in Nigeria.
Pastor Adeboye released 15 prayer points against the armed gangs across the nation via social media.
Jerrywright Ukwu is an Abuja-based senior political/defence correspondent at Legit.ng. He is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos and the International Institute of Journalism in Abuja. He is also a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. He spends his leisure-time reading history books. He can be reached via email at jerrywright39@yahoo.com.
Source: Legit.ng
