By Princess Simon Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Armed men suspected to be bandits have attacked Maijaki village in Birnin Maza/ Tashibo ward, Lapai Local Government Area of Niger state, killing one and abducted 13 others.
Also, Gulu community in the same Lapai Local Government have been deserted following reports of a letter purportedly sent to the community by armed bandits, notifying the people of their plans to launch another attack on them on 30th of this month.
The recent attack in the early hours of Friday is coming less than 48 hours after the attack at Gulu General Hospital where no fewer than 20 people, including the Medical Director and the Laboratory attendant were abducted.
Eyewitness account said the invaders came in at about 1: am Friday when the villagers were woken up by sporadic gun shots. While some found their way into nearby bushes, some others sustained gunshot injuries and were rushed to Lapai General Hospital for treatment.
Already, there is palpable fear and tension in the area, the source said. He expressed fears that the criminals maybe planning to use the area as their base to launch attacks on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja due to its proximity as well as the boundary between Niger, Kogi and Abuja.
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Newspaper reliably gathered that the suspected armed bandits have currently taken over Kpashimi forest where they use as stronghold and from where they launch attacks on soft targets, especially communities along the forest which stretched towards Abuja and Kogi borders.
Niger State Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel Umar, confirmed the attacks, adding that there is on-going manhunt for the criminals and to safeguard the lives of the people in the area.
In a related development, suspected armed bandits, on Monday night, dropped a letter at Vulegbo, near Gulu, purportedly informing the community of their plans to launch another attack against them on the 30th of this month.
Consequently, Vulegbo village and environs is currently deserted as the people have moved to neighbouring communities for safety and are pleading to government to provide security for the communities along the corridors to end the siege by the AK-47 wielding criminals. NNL.
