Gunmen Kill 20 Vigilantes, Soldier In Niger

Bandits on Wednesday night ambushed and murdered 20 vigilantes in Kotonkoro village of Mariga Local Government Area, Niger State.

A source in the community disclosed that the bandits also invaded a military base, killed one soldier and injured another.

This is coming weeks after the state Governor, Abubakar Bello, promised to empower vigilante group in the state with high calibre weapons to enable them to fight against bandits.

The killings were confirmed by the commandant of the vigilantes in the local government, Abu Hashimu.

“The slain vigilantes were returning from a search operation when they were ambushed. 16 of them were killed on the spot while the bandits pursued four others who tried to escape and gunned them down also.”

The commandant disclosed that the bodies of the deceased have been recovered and buried, adding that a joint security operation consisting of military and vigilantes has begun a manhunt for the bandits.

The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, confirmed the killings of the 20.

Matane also said the military post in the area was attacked and “we lost one soldier.”

In a related development, gunmen suspected to be bandits on Wednesday evening invaded Tunga community, Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The gunmen, who attacked the community on motorcycles killed the village head and two other people.