By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief, North-Central, in Minna)
Gun men numbering about sixty (60), on Wednesday, invaded the palace of the Emir of Kagara in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger state, Alhaji Ahmed Garba Gunna Attahiru, who is said to have narrowly escape the ambush.
The armed gunmen who rode in about 20 motorcycles with three in each of the motorcycles allegedly stormed palace shooting sporadically into the air to scare away possible intruders as they made their way into the palace unchallenged as people scampered for safety.
An eye witness account from the area told NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Correspondent how the armed men first invaded the busy market at about 5pm on the fateful day being their market day, forcing traders who were rounding up for the days’ business to scamper for safety and later headed for the palace.
The source also hinted how Kagara became deserted as people have abandoned their homes to take refuge inside the bush to avoid being kidnapped or killed while few courageous ones resorted to prayers for Allah's intervention and protection against the invaders.
According to the source, “The armed men came into Kagara through Attahiru primary school towards Madaka road leading to the bush where they abducted the students of Kagara some months back”.
The source who however expressed gratitude to Allah that the Emir was not in town when the gun men who apparently had come to abduct him came calling, saying, ‘maybe they heard the rumour that the Emir who has been out of town is back’.
“Unfortunately for them, the Emir, Alhaji Ahmed Garba Gunna Attahiru 11, has been away for almost two weeks now but the situation is worsened due to lack of network service in Kagara”, he said, expressing gratitude that the gun men could not achieve their evil mission.
Efforts to confirm the attack from the Chairman of Rafi Local Government Area, Alhaji Ismaila Danmodibo and the Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu A. Abiodun, as at the time of filing the report, proved abortive as their numbers kept indicating, ‘unreacheable’. NNL.
