Bandits Kidnap 18 Passengers In Niger

Eighteen passengers on board one of the buses of the Niger State Transport Authority have been kidnapped by bandits.

The attack was said to have occurred around Yakila village in the Rafi Local Government Area of the state.

It was learnt that the bandits left a woman and her baby behind and went away with other 18 passengers.

The passengers were said to be heading for Minna, the state capital, from Kotangora when the incident happened.

The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Mallam Ibrahim Inga, confirmed the incident on the telephone.

Inga who was on his way from Kagara for the revalidation of his All Progressives Congress membership in company with the state Chief of Staff, said they stumbled on the scene after the bandits left.

He said, “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 road and went away with other 18 passengers in the bus.

“No government official was among those kidnapped. 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.”

Meanwhile, efforts to speak to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Wasiu Abiodun, were unsuccessful as calls made to his mobile phone rang out.