Two persons have been confirmed killed as armed bandits numbering over 100 on Sunday morning invaded Erena community in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to an eyewitness report, the bandits attacked Erena and its environs at about 7am with dangerous weapons, shooting sporadically and leaving many injured.
It was gathered that many villagers scamped and ran into the bush for safety, while the two who were unlucky died as the bandits rustled over 2,000 cattle.
While confirming the attack, the spokesman of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, said two persons were killed, but only one person got injured, adding that some cows were rustled in the attacks by the bandits in Erena.
Abiodun stated that normalcy had returned to the area as a combined security team has been sent to the area to restore peace.
The eyewitness, who did not want his name mentioned, however reported that some of the villagers have now taken refuge at Gwada, thereby pushing to record high the number of Internally Displaced Persons in Shiroro Local Government Area in parts of Niger State.
Also, former Chairman of Shiroro Local Government Area, retired Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdullahi Yerima, who has been victim of bandits attacks several times, appealed to both the Niger State and Federal Governments as well as security agencies to come to their aid.
While lamenting, Yerima said: “Unless urgent steps are taken, hunger and starvation will set in since Shiroro has been the food basket of Niger State and has been under massive and consistent attack by bandits.”
Findings by our Correspondent have it that the bandits are having a leeway ever since some of the vigilante group members in Niger State have threatened to withdraw their operations except the government provides them with modern fighting equipments to confront the men of the underworld.
Some of the affected villages that came under bandits attack included Unguwar Dauda, Gini Sarkin noma Lagbe, Gope Rafin sanyi Amuko and Gussako.