Bandits have k!lled 10 farmers including women from Wayam and Belu-Belu villages in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

Residents said six of the victims were beheaded and bandits went away with their heads.

According to them, many people also sustained bullet wounds and were being treated at a clinic in Kagara, the Headquarters of Rafi LGA.

Daily Trust also gathered that many people were also kidnapped during the attack that happened around 5am on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, when the victims were observing their early morning prayers.

Bala Tukur, a resident in the area told the publication that the residents of Wayam, Belu-Belu, Madaka and adjoining communities had all fled to Kagara town, the Headquarters of Rafi LGA, since Tuesday morning.

“At Wayam village near Madaka under Kagara town, they mercilessly k!lled 10 people and injured many. The way they killed us now is very traumatic, I swear. Everybody has fled,” he said.

“Many people have not been able to harvest 50 percent of their crops including maize that were ready for harvest and getting those crops harvested now would be hard.

“Recently, residents of Kukoki were asked to pay N1.5 million to be allowed to harvest their crops. They paid but bandits came back to attack them four days ago,” he said.

Locals said bandits had resumed aggressive attacks in the last one week as farmers from Wushishi, Rafi, Shiroro, Mariga and Kontagora LGAs of the state began to harvest their farm produce.

On Friday, it was gathered that bandits invaded the ancient town of Zungeru, Wushishi LGA, moving from house to house including a hotel, and kidnapping the occupants.

One of the residents said the invasion of Zungeru happened around 12am on Saturday during which a staff member of Sino-Hydro, Saidu Yakubu aka Abacha, and his wife, were kidnapped.

Similarly, Daily Trust gathered that 2 Indian nationals were kidnapped on a rice farm in Swashi, Borgu LGA on November 2, 2024

A resident who preferred anonymity said one of the vigilantes guarding the farm was k!lled during the attack. 

The Commissioner for Homeland Security, Brigadier General Bello Abdullahi Mohammed said the state government was aware of the attacks.

“The Niger State Government is very much aware. All the security stakeholders have been mobilised to address the issue and prevent future reoccurrence,” he stated.