By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Terrorists have again attacked communities Agwarra and Borgu Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Niger state killing no fewer than 42 and abducting unconfirmed number of persons mostly women and children.
The recent attack, when Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago had travelled outside the country is coming less than two weeks after the rescue of pupils and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic Private Primary and Secondary schools, Papiri in Agwara LGA.
Sources from the area narrated how the terrorists who had laid siege on the communities, apparently on revenge mission in the past one week carried out series of attacks on the affected villages unchallenged by security agencies.
"The terrorists came in their numbers and in the past one week, armed with sophisticated weapons and angrily they attacked the communities unchallenged because there is no security presence here", one of the sources who craved anonymity said.
The source further hinted that, “The terrorists killed 37 people in Kasuwa Daji near Papiri, another 5 in Kaiama village and abducted many people including children, and some of these children are pupils and students of the same St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri".
“Government and security agencies should please come to our rescue, we have serious security crisis across the river where some of the students were abducted".
“The terrorists have been moving about freely, they have been coming out from the surrounding forests for about a week now, wrecking havoc in the villages. Just yesterday (Saturday) alone they burnt one particular market and abducted many people, including mothers and their children”.
The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Director of Communications, Rev. Fr. Stephen Kabirat who confirmed the latest attack in a statement said the terrorists have so far killed over forty persons and taken into captivity others.
The statement from the Diocesan Communications Directorate indicated that, “Our Parish Priest narrowly escaped abduction when the terrorists visited our Mission House three days ago, they destroyed some religious items in the church, carted away two motorbikes and cash worth over two hundred thousand Naira".
“The terrorists came looking for the Parish Priest but luckily he escaped, they abducted some villagers including children”, another villager who appealed for urgent assistance from the relevant agencies said.
“As I am talking to you, some of the villages where the abducted school children come from have been sleeping inside the bushes since they returned from captivity because the terrorists have not allowed them to settle down in their respective homes”.
Also, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger state Command, SP Wasiu A. Abiodun confirmedthe attacks. "At about 9pm on Saturday, the Command received reports that suspected armed bandits attacked and killed over 30 persons and abducted unconfirmed number of persons".
According to SP Abiodun, “At about 4:30pm on Saturday, suspected armed bandits from the Borgu National Park Forest along Kabe District invaded Kasuwan Daji located at Demo village via Kabe, killed over 30 persons, burnt the market, looted shops and carted away food items".
The statement further hinted that joint security team has been dispatched to the scene and efforts are ongoing to rescue the abducted victims. NNL.
