Bandits Kidnap 21 Passengers In Niger State

[Edoman]

Bandits have aducted 21 passengers on board a bus belonging to the Niger state Transport Authority (NSTA) on Sunday afternoon at Yakila village in Rafi local government of Niger state.

The bus was said to be traveling from Kontagora town to Minna, the state capital before it was intercepted by the bandits.

Blueprint learnt that all the 21 passengers were matched into the forest by the gunmen while shooting sporadically.

Eye witness account stated that there was panic around the area as villagers ran for safety.

Blueprint however, gathered that the Yakila general area has become bandits enclave with series of attacks during which the traditional ruler of the area was recently kidnapped and later killed.

It was learnt that the Chief of Staff to the Niger state Governor, Ibrahim Balarebe arrived the scene of Sunday kidnap incident barely three minutes after it occurred.

Balarebe was said to be coming from Kagara headquarters of Rafi local government after an official engagement and that he got to the spot just as the bandits hurried into the forest.

The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Maganagement Agency, Mallam Ibrahim Inga, confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation.

Inga who was on his way from Kagara for the revalidation of his All Progressives Congress (APC) membership in company of the Chief of staff said they met the scene where the bandit operated.

He explained that they met a woman with her child who was left by the bandits who told them that other 18 passengers in the bus have been taken away.

According to him, “The only thing I can tell you now is we have rescued the woman and her baby and she is in the vehicle with us and we are on our way to Minna. She told us that the bandits blocked the way and went away with other passengers in the bus.”

He said no government official was among those kidnapped, adding, “I can’t give more than that for now because the woman is traumatised and we cannot be asking her too many questions for now.”

He however promised to get back to our correspondent when he gets back to Minna with more information.

Meanwhile, efforts to speak to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Wasiu Abiodun, was unsuccessful as he neither picked his calls nor responded to messages.

https://www.blueprint.ng/breaking-bandits-abduct-21-passengers-in-niger/

[Edoman]

Armed bandits attack vehicle in Niger State, kidnap 18 passengers including groomsmen







Photos of some of the groomsmen 
Armed bandits have kidnapped eighteen passengers of the Niger State Transport Authority (NSTA)
 
The attack occurred along Zungeru- Tegina road at Yakila village in Rafi Local Government Area of the state around 3pm on Sunday. February 14. 
 

 
The passengers including some groomsmen, were heading to Minna, the state capital from Kotangora when the bandits attacked.  
 
The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Mallam Ibrahim Inga, who confirmed the incident to Daily Trust, said they visited the scene and met a woman and her child, who were left by the bandits.  
 

 
"The only thing I can tell you now is we have rescued the woman and her baby and she is in the vehicle with us and we are on our way to Minna. She told us that the bandits blocked the way and went away with other 18 passengers in the bus," he stated.
 
"No government official was among those kidnapped. I can’t give more than that for now because the woman is traumatized and we cannot be asking her too many questions for now,” Inga added.
 

 
Meanwhile, the Niger State Government has appealed for calm over the abduction of the travellers. 
 
A statement issued by the State Commissioner of Information and Strategy Niger state, Hon. Muhammad Sani Idris confirmed that the abducted persons were on board the state transport vehicle (NSTA) travelling from Kontagora to Minna around 3pm by armed gunmen suspected to be bandits.
 
He said that the state government is very disturbed because of the re- surfacing of armed gunmen on our highways, pointing out that ,"it is disturbing and the government shall decisively rescue and ensure such negative development does not continue in the state".
 
According to him, the state government is earnestly committed in its primary responsibility of protecting the life and property of every citizen.
 
"While we appeal for calm among citizens especially the relatives of the abducted persons, we equally appeal to all and sundry to help provide useful information to our security agencies for necessary action against the bad elements in our midst and that the government will not relent in its efforts on security." he added.