BREAKING NEWS: Again, bandits raid Niger community, kidnaps 6 teenage girls, killed one. | Factsheetnews
By Akawu Ibrahim
People in Pandogari were on Wednesday left in deep horror when a band of terrorists invaded the area and abducted six young members of the community in what observers said was a renewed upsurge of banditry and kidnapping in Rafi local government area of Niger State.
On Thursday, the member representing Rafi state constituency in Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Zubairu Ismaila Zannah raised alarm, saying terrorists had, within just a month, kidnapped 122 people and killed two in his constituency. He noted that communities like Pandogari, Wowo, Gidigori, Ringa, and Kawu were most affected, suffering displacement, economic hardship, and agricultural destruction.
During a New Year raid in Pandogari, over 40 people were kidnapped and five killed in a daring attack that sent shockwaves in the community and left residents wonder whether the situation could ever be brought to an end.
The recent kidnapping of six members of the community, all females between the ages of 15 and 17 once again brought to fore the acute security situation in rural areas which have suffered long years of horrific terrorist’s attacks and displacement.
According to some community members who spoke to this publication, terrorists, suspected to be from the Dogo Gide terror group, came to the community around midnight, through the Mamman Kontagora Technical College, Pandogari and seized the six young ladies, killed one boy named Aliyu and moved them to Kwangir, a settlement deep in the bush.
A familiar source with our reporter said the bandits were led by a certain notorious kidnapper named Hudu, a fulani from Maganda village and one Umaru Gunte popularly known as U-Gemu . Hudu and U-Gemu were born and brought up in Pandogari. The source said majority of the victims numbering over 200 who were kidnapped in the past two months around the restive areas in Shiroro, Munya and Rafi LGAs are held in camps in Kwangir, Kogo and Saibore villages.
The source further disclosed that the bandits, knowing fully the presence of military detachment in Pandogari, came heavily armed with large catche of explosives in readiness for any confrontation adding “but you know this was averted because the military camped at the entrance to the village from Kagara while the terrorists used to come from the end of the village going to Birnin Gwari near the Technical College which is there normal route”, he said.
Last week, this online newspaper dug and exposed the Internal strife among terrorists in Rafi, Shiroro and Munya for control of territory which further destroyed the hopes of villagers returning to their villages after more than eight years of living in dehumanizing conditions in various internally displaced IDP camps.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago during project tour in Gwada and Kuta towns of Shiroro local government announced his government’s intention to construct 3000 housing units for people displaced by banditry to settle until the insecurity situation is brought to an end. But with the recent resurgence of banditry and the take over of permanent territory belonging to the natives, there seems to be no hope of return in sight.
“Our prayers always is for us and our children to return to our ancestral homes. There is no place like home. We left our farms, homes, our parent’s graves and everything we’re used to to settle in this strange conditions. We’re the only people treated this way and with all what we are hearing, there is no hope that one day or soon we will shall return to our native lands”, Abu Zarmai, one of the internally displaced villagers cried out.
