Zoma, Yangalo, Masamagu, Atabo and other neighbouring communities in Magama Local Government Area of Niger State were attacked by bandits for three days running forcing villagers to flee to Kontagora town, the Headquarters of Kontagora Local Government Area.
The bandits who reportedly began the attacks on Thursday evening are still operating as of the time of filing this report Sunday morning, killing and kidnapping many people, as well as injuring several others just as dozens fled their homes.
Chairman of Magama Local Government, Safiyanu Ibeto, confirmed the attacks.
Some of the villagers on Sunday said the attackers had been operating since Thursday without any security intervention.
“Even when we tell them, they don’t respond. We are just at the mercy of bandits,” one of the residents said.
An elderly woman, Khadijah Abdullahi, said two of her married daughters – mothers of five and three children – were among those kidnapped.
But one of the villagers Safiya Abdullahi who escaped escaped, said “when we saw them, I ran and climbed a mountain. I didn’t know that some of them saw me where I was hiding. I covered myself with my hijab. They were on about 30 motorcycles. So, they came to meet me and they asked what I was doing there. I said I was afraid of them. Luckily for me, they asked me to leave immediately. That was how I escaped.”
Another fleeing villager, Shamsudeen Abdulmalik Atabo, said the bandits started the operation in the three communities around 12pm and were still there as of Saturday evening.
“My brother’s wife was among those kidnapped. I am currently in Kontagora where I am staying with a relative of mine,” he said.
As at the time of filing this report, it was learnt that the bandits were still operating in Yangalo, the major town where they had gathered rustled cows.
The fleeing villagers were said to have taken refuge in Usubu, a suburb of Kontagora.
