Armed bandits invaded Kuchi community in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State on Friday night, killing at least seven people and abducting about 200 villagers.
The attackers, estimated to be around 300, overwhelmed local security forces and operated for over three hours during a heavy downpour.
Among the deceased are four members of the Joint Security Taskforce and three villagers who attempted to escape.
The bandits, arriving on about 100 motorcycles with three armed individuals on each, looted shops and selected individuals to abduct, including women.
The invasion, which began around 7:00 pm, saw no immediate response from additional security forces. Reinforcements arrived only the following morning, long after the bandits had fled.
The Chairman of Munya Local Government, Mallam Aminu Najume, confirmed the attack and the deaths of four security agents.
Najume expressed frustration over the lack of prompt security assistance and criticized the Kaduna State government for not taking stronger actions against the bandits, who are believed to operate from Kaduna and retreat there after their raids.
“They also abducted about 150 villagers, including women and went away with them inside the rain. Throughout the operation by the Bandits, no assistance came from anywhere.
“Honestly the Council is overwhelmed with the current situation. I am not thinking straight as I speak with you because my people have lost their sleep, they have been forced out of the community
“These people usually come from Kaduna state to operate in Niger state and return back. They move in their hundreds and yet the security agents don’t see them, even when the villagers alert them, no action is taken.
“Look at yesterday’s attack, for over three hours, there was no reinforcement from anywhere. They outnumbered the Joint Security Taskforce and succeeded in killing four of them, including some villagers.
“We cannot ascertain the number of people that were injured because some are still in the bush, they slept there,” he stated
Efforts to reach the Niger State Police Command for comments were unsuccessful as the Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, was not reachable.