Bandits Kill One, Abduct Couple in Niger; Villagers Repel Separate Attack

By Zagazola Makama

Suspected bandits have killed one person and abducted a couple during an attack on Makera town in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State.

Police sources said the incident occurred at about 2:30 a.m. on May 3 when armed men invaded the community along the Kontagora–Lagos highway.

The sources disclosed that the attackers shot one Aminu Yusufa, who later died while receiving treatment at a hospital in Makera.

According to the sources, the assailants also abducted a husband and wife, identified as Alhaji Umaru Garba and Hajiya Marwa Umaru, and took them to an unknown destination.

They added that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) mobilised a joint team of police operatives and local vigilantes to the scene, while efforts are ongoing to rescue the victims and apprehend the perpetrators.

In a related development, villagers in Woko community, Borgu Local Government Area, repelled a separate bandits’ attack on May 2 at about 10:15 p.m.

The sources said the bandits invaded the village shooting sporadically, but residents mobilised and confronted them, leading to the neutralisation of one of the attackers while others fled with gunshot injuries.

They added that a police tactical team, alongside local hunters and vigilantes, visited the scene where the body of the neutralised bandit and a locally made shotgun were recovered.

The sources noted that security monitoring has been intensified in the affected areas, while investigations into both incidents are ongoing.