Bandits numbering about 50 have killed no fewer than 10 residents, including women and children at an agrarian community in Niger State.
Riding on motorcycles, the bandits were said to have slaughtered some of the women who refused to be raped by the gunmen.
According to The Punch, the incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday when the residents were preparing for their farms.
A source who did not want to be identified because of fear of attack by the bandits, said the incident occurred in the Wayam community of Sabon-Gari District in the Rafi Local Government Area of the state.
The source said the bandits were shooting sporadically to scare away intruders and that some of the bandits who tried to rape the victims but were denied went ahead and slaughtered the women while others proceeded to set houses, shops and barns ablaze.
The source said, “The bandits came into the village very early in the morning. They were riding on motorcycles in large numbers and shooting sporadically to scare the villagers.
“Some of them burnt houses and barns. At least 10 people were killed. Some died from bullet wounds.
“Some women who refused to be raped were slaughtered. They attacked us for several hours and there was no security presence throughout the time.”
A source in the community who also pleaded anonymity for fear of attack told The PUNCH that the community was currently deserted following the attack.
He disclosed that all the deceased had been buried amidst the tears of their loved ones.
According to the source, the attackers always retreated to Kaduna State anytime they attacked the communities, as the affected towns bordered Kaduna, especially the Birnin Gwari axis of the state.
“The community has been deserted by residents fearing for their lives. No security personnel have come here. When they finished the attack, the bandits retreated to the Birnin Gwari axis of Kaduna State which borders the Wayam community,” the source said.
Six months ago bandits had attacked the Madaka community, a few kilometres from Wayam community, killing no fewer than 60 residents.
When the Niger State Police Command spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun was contacted, he said he would find out and get back.
Abiodun said on the telephone, “I will find out and get back to you,” but he had not returned the call or replied to the message sent to his WhatsApp at the time of filing this report.
