Bandits kill 3 travellers, abduct 2 farmers in Niger

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have killed three persons between Bangi and Kotonkoro road in Mariga local government area of Niger state.

It was gathered that the incident occurred on Sunday morning around 9:00 am.

The bandits were said to ave blocked the road, shooting at moving vehicles.

Alhaji Shehu Kotonkoro, in whose car the three persons were killed, told journalists in an interview that the victims include his driver, a young girl and another identified as Alhaji Ibrahim who were on their way to the market..

He explained that the incident occurred about 5km from Kotonkoro village.

While decrying the inadequate number of security personnel in the area, Shehu disclosed that the bandits after killing the three victims, also kidnapped two farmers who were harvesting rice on their farm.

He explained that students from the community have been asked to return home to avoid falling victim.

When contacted, the chairman, Mariga local government area, Alhaji Abbas Musa Kasuwa-Garba confirmed the report, saying no fewer than three persons lost their lives in the attack.

Sympathizing with the families of the victims, Kasuwa-Garba blamed the incessant banditry activities in the area on the border shared by the council with Zamfara, Kebbi and Kaduna states.

He explained that the bandits usually invade and unleash mayhem on communities in his council through Birinin Gwari axis, Kaduna State and afterwards, return to their camps outside the state.