Gunmen abduct Niger village head, demand N80m ransom

The village head of Patiko, Zugurma District, Mashegu LGA of Niger State, Mallam Haruna Abubakar, has been reportedly kidnapped by bandits.

A resident of the area, Aliyu Usman, told Daily Trust that the bandits invaded the village in the wee hours of Friday and shot sporadically while surrounding the residence of the village before taking him away.

He said bandits called on Saturday, demanding N80 million before he could be released.

He said the bandits also raided Fanga community in Mashegu LGA, killed a farmer and kidnapped four others.

“Mashegu Local Government has suffered a series of attacks in the last one week. Several people have been kidnapped, a large number of cattle have been rustled and many people have fled their homes.

“We live in constant fear because bandits come anytime to attack us,” he said.

Usman said the deteriorating security situation in the area did not allow farmers in the area to engage in farming this rainy season.

“It is through farming that we eat. Now, we have abandoned our farmlands; our livelihoods have been destroyed. We need urgent government intervention,” he added.

When contacted, the police spokesperson in Niger State, Wasiu Abiodun, promised to verify the incident and revert. He was yet to do so as of press time. (Daily Trust)