Bandits have killed at least 48 people and abducted 180 others across communities in Niger state within the last two months, investigations by 21st Century Chronicle have revealed.
The killings and abductions revolved around eight local government areas of Shiroro, Munya, Rafi, Paikoro, Lapai, Mashegu, Mariga and Bosso with tales of deaths and destruction.
In December 2020, nine people including a Christian priest were killed and 59 others abducted in separate attacks by bandits in Shiroro, Rafi, Bosso and Mashegu local government areas of the state.
A daring invasion of Maitumbi within Minna metropolis and Kuchi, few kilometers away on December 28, had thrown residents of the state capital into panic with many fearing a planned attack of urban settlements by bandits. In the attack, 20 people were reportedly abducted in the two locations.
The attacks spike in January with a rising death figure as more people were abducted and displaced from their homes. Between January 1t and 27, 18 people were killed, while 81 others were abducted in communities across Shiroro, Mashegu, Rafi, Munya, Paikoro and Lapai local government areas of the state.
Also in Paikoro local government area, gunmen attacked Kaffin Koro and 11 other communities between January 23 and 24, killing six and injuring 20 others, while over 300 were displaced.
As the dust over the Paikoro incident was yet to settle, bandits numbering over 300 on motorcycles again attacked communities in Shiroro local government area, killing 21 and abducting over 40 in their wake.
‘We don’t report bandit attacks any longer’
The councilor representing Kwaki ward in Shiroro local government area, which has been the epicenter of the crisis in the state, Malam Jafaru Kwaki said people no longer report incidents to the authorities.
“When attacks happen we just bury our dead immediately because even when you report, nothing will be done before another attack takes place,” he explained.
He said many communities have been deserted for over a year following incessant attacks.
21st Century Chronicle reports that banditry heightened in the state in 2018 following sustained military offensives against them in Zamfara and Kaduna states.
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello had confirmed that the attackers were retreating into Niger through Kamuku forest which linked the state with Kaduna, Zamfara and Sokoto.
Initially, their activities were restricted to Munya, Shiroro and Rafi local government areas earlier designated as red zones but later spread to more local government areas.
Governor Bello’s failed peace deal with bandits
When the attacks intensified in 2019, Governor Bello had to enter into a peace deal with the leaders of the bandits to end the violence.
Key among the terms of the agreement was that the state government should secure the release of members of the bandits who are found not culpable in the attacks in the state but were in police custody. The bandits also wanted inclusion in government empowerment.
In fulfilment of the peace deal which took place in Kotonkoro, Mariga local government area, 13 bandits earlier arrested by security operatives were released during the International Day of Peace celebration in 2019.
However, the pact was truncated as more bandits crossed over into the state from Sarkin Pawa in Kaduna and Zamfara states, attacking communities on their way.
The attacks have thrown up five Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Shiroro, Rafi, Munya and Wushishi LGAs with over 16,000 inhabitants as at February 2020. This is outside hundreds of others who seek abode in homes of relations and well-wishers.
654 killed by bandits since 2011
Survey by the Nigeria Security Tracker as at December 27, 2020 indicated that 654 people were killed by bandits in the state since May 2011.
The lawmaker representing Niger East Senatorial District, Senator Sani Musa, described the development as sad, lamenting that the attacks have grounded economic activities of his zone as they can no longer access their farms and homes.
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take a decisive action against what he referred to as a recurring decimal.
