Bandits Kill Village Head, 20 Others In Niger Community
In a devastating assault on the Madaka community within the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, suspected bandits have wrought havoc, claiming the lives of no fewer than 21 individuals, among them, the village head.
The incident unfolded with terrifying swiftness around 3 pm on Thursday, amidst the bustling activity of the community market, resulting in a grim tally of casualties.
Reports from the scene suggest that it was utter chaos, with approximately 50 residences engulfed in flames, along with several commercial establishments, and a number of automobiles and motorcycles reduced to charred remnants.
The assailants, armed and unrelenting, are said to have descended upon the village with merciless gunfire, indiscriminately snuffing out lives and reducing the once-vibrant market to ash. Furthermore, they callously abducted an unknown number of villagers, spiriting them away to an undisclosed location.
Alhaji Isah Bawale, a respected district head, verified the harrowing events in a somber telephone interview from Minna, the state capital. This tragedy marks a chilling recurrence, as the community had previously weathered a similar assault years ago, resulting in the untimely demise of a former district head.
Alarmingly, Madaka has languished without adequate security presence since that fateful day, leaving its inhabitants vulnerable to the whims of marauding bandits, who have since operated with impunity.
