Banditry: Three vigilantes dead, scores abducted, injured in Niger community

Three vigilante men including their Commander, Danladi Dobbo have allegedly been killed while many others sustained injuries during an attack by armed bandits in Kpada community, Lapai local government area of Niger State.

The bandits it was gathered also kidnapped scores of villagers in the area in the incident that occurred on Friday afternoon.

Eyewitness accounts said the gunmen stormed the community when the villagers and tractor operators were conducting their farming activities and kidnapped scores of persons.

The source said after kidnapping some villagers, the criminals set the tractor ablaze.

According to reports, as a result of the attack, the vigilantes in the area mobilized for a search and rescue mission to the forest where they engaged the gunmen in a fight that led to the death of three local security men.

DAILY POST learnt that before this incident, two security personnel comprised of a Police DCO and a vigilant in the council lost their lives in the same Kpada community during a rescue mission.

It was further gathered that three different helicopters were seen between the Kpada border with the Federal Capital Territory, FCT down to Muye border with Kogi State before the attacks were launched on the area.

However, the state command, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Wasiu Abiodun could not be reached for confirmation at the time of filing this report.