Suspected bandits have k!lled seven farmers, including a vigilante, and burnt 50 bags of maize inside a truck in Bangi, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.

Sources on Saturday, November 23, told Daily Trust that the victims had gone to bring the harvested maize home from their farm when the bandits ambushed them, k!lled all the occupants in the truck and set the truck.

“Bandits have killed seven of our farmers who had gone to farm to bring the maize they had harvested home. The attackers hid and waited until after the victims had loaded the 50 bags of maize into the truck and were about to take off to return home when they opened fire on them. After k!lling the victims, they also set the truck and the 50 bags of maize already loaded ablaze,” a source said.

He said it was difficult for farmers in Mariga to harvest their crops this year due to k!llings and kidnappings bandits.

Sources also confirmed to the publication that bandits k!lled one Mallam Danjuma, a resident of Kontagora, the headquarters of Kontagora LGA after reportedly collecting N20 million ransom from his family

Reports have it that the victim was reportedly murdered after spending 3 weeks in captivity.

Sources said the news of Danjuma’s death was brought to his family one of the kidnapped victims who escaped from the kidnappers’ den.

Yahaya Suleiman, a resident of Kontagora, said kidnapping had become a daily occurrence in some parts of the town in the last few weeks.

The spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the k!lling of the seven farmers.

“On 16th November, around 3pm, vigilante men from Wamba/Yan-sakai were ambushed within Makogi/Ungwan Elbi suspected kidnappers, unfortunately caused loss of lives of some of the members,” the PPRO stated.

Abiodun said a joint security operatives comprising the police and the military tactical teams had been mobilised to the area to forestall reoccurrence and ensure a peaceful farming harvest season.