Bandits Raid Niger Community, Burn Houses, Cattle, Foodstuffs

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT – Bandits on Sunday stormed the Allawa community in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State burning over 30 houses with cattle and foodstuffs also razed during the attack.

Confirming the criminal gangs’ invasion of their community, Chairman of Allawa Youth Connect, Yusuf Musa, disclosed that the attackers stormed the area at about 8pm on Sunday, even as the community is yet to fully establish the number of people missing as a result of the raid.

Musa said about 30 houses, 100 cattle, 35 motorcycles and over 150 bags of assorted grains belonging to residents were razed during the attack.

Some of the distressed residents lamented finding themselves in the most unfortunate situation where they presently cannot move for about one km away from their community without coming in contact with terrorists, whom they said have permanent camps in the now notorious Allawa Forest.

Earlier, reports had emerged that bandits had attacked the community on Friday morning, killing a vigilante and kidnapping 12 people.

It was reliably gathered from the anxious residents that after the early Friday morning attack, the criminal elements returned around 9pm the same Friday but were repelled by the military operatives stationed in the community.

Our reliable source hinted that Sunday night attack has created anxiety and tension, forcing many residents to flee the community to Pandogari, Kuta and Gwada areas of the State for their security and safety.

Before going to press, the State government was yet to officially react to the attack and efforts to reach either the Commissioner of Information or the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim for their comment were unsuccessful.

Similarly, messages sent to the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Brigadier General Bello Abdullahi Mohammed (rtd) did not receive anh response.

Also, journalists in the were also awaiting an office reaction from the Niger State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun on the incident.

Forefront News learnt that Allawa is considered a major agrarian community in Niger State with over 2,000 residents in Lakpma axis of Shiroro Local Government Area.