Nigeria: Bandits kill village head, 20 others in Niger assault

In a heart-wrenching assault on the Madaka community within the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, suspected bandits have unleashed terror, claiming the lives of 21 individuals, including the village head.

The tragic event unfolded with swift brutality around 3 pm on Thursday, amidst the bustling activity of the community market, resulting in a devastating loss of lives.

Eyewitness accounts paint a picture of chaos, with approximately 50 residences engulfed in flames, along with numerous commercial establishments, and several vehicles reduced to charred wreckage.

The assailants, armed and ruthless, descended upon the village with relentless gunfire, indiscriminately snuffing out lives and reducing the vibrant market to ashes.

Additionally, they callously abducted an undisclosed number of villagers, spiriting them away to an unknown location.

Alhaji Isah Bawale, a respected district head, confirmed the harrowing events in a solemn telephone interview from Minna, the state capital.

This tragedy marks a grim recurrence, as the community had previously endured a similar assault, resulting in the untimely demise of a former district head.

Alarmingly, Madaka has been without adequate security presence since that fateful day, leaving its inhabitants vulnerable to the whims of marauding bandits who have since operated with impunity.

Efforts to obtain clarification and assurance from the Niger State Command of Police, through the Public Relations Officer SP Wasiu Abiodun, were met with promises of verification and follow-up, though no response had been received at the time of this report.

The Niger State Government’s silence on the incident raises concerns about the measures being taken to protect vulnerable communities like Madaka from such brazen acts of violence.

Meanwhile, the Northern Senators Forum has condemned the recent surge in kidnappings and violent activities in the region, urging the Federal government to take urgent and decisive action to end the menace.

In a statement issued by its Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, in Abuja on Thursday, the group pledged relentless efforts until the security situation improves significantly and the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Yar’adua emphasized that the recent wave of violence and kidnappings in the North is a major concern for the Northern Senators Forum, reaffirming the Forum’s commitment to finding a lasting solution to the menace.

“The series of events that have unfolded in Kaduna State, including the kidnapping of 286 students and staff from a school on March 7th, the despicable attack on worshippers in a mosque on March 8th, the abduction of 61 more persons on March 12th, followed by 14 individuals on March 17th, and a staggering total of 87 individuals in Kujuru on March 18th, amongst others, are not only reprehensible but demand urgent and resolute action,” the statement read.