Bandits Kill Vigilantes and Hunter In An Ambush In Niger State

Five persons made up of four vigilantes and one hunter in an operation to rescue kidnapped victims were unfortunately killed by bandits in an ambush at the Lafiya-Kpada-Duma forest in Niger state.

Six other vigilante members were severely wounded in the attack. The incident according to a member of the vigilante who spoke on anonymity revealed that some vigilante members from Abuja, the country’s federal capital territory mobilized with some vigilante members from Niger state to comb the forest in an attempt to rescue some 22 farmers who were kidnapped on a farm at Rafin-Daji community in Abaji Area Council of Abuja.

The vigilantes and hunters were ambushed by the bandits inside the forest who opened fire on them. The bandits who he said were hiding on tree tops awaiting them were able to gun down four vigilantes and one hunter in the group. The men who were shot died because of loss of blood owing to the fact that they could not be taken to the hospital on time because of the non-motor able road leading from the forest to the nearby community.

The commander of Niger state vigilante corps confirmed the incident and also informed that one of the abducted farmers was also killed during the incident.

The commissioner for internal security in Niger state, Emmanuel Umar confirmed the incident and also pleaded with members of the community not to go into the forest in search of the bandits or the bodies of the deceased men, noting that security operatives would be detached to help do that.