Bandits kill 15 in fresh attack in Niger

No fewer than 15 people including two policemen and an Islamic cleric have been killed by bandit in in Beri village, Mariga local government area of Niger State on Monday.

It was gathered that about 600 bandits on motorcycles invaded the village at about 7am and operated up till 11am without any resistance.

The Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Ahmed Inga, confirmed the attack in a memo sent to journalists on Monday.

Those who lost their lives to the incident included Idris Ahmed Kwata, Hadiza Umaru Tunga, Momi Dalladi, Ibrahim Dalkadi, Yau Dalladi, and Saadiya Garba.

Others were Garba Umar Tashanjirgi, Garba Umar Tjirgi, Hussaini Shuaib, Ayuba Garba, Abdullahi Jodi, Alhaji Isah Kasakohi; Fatima Nasiru Kwata among others.

Inga noted that the bandits also attacked Unguwan Malam Bako in Kotonkoro district and abducted an unspecified number of residents.

On the otherside, Lapai Emirate Council in Niger State has removed the village head of Muye, Abdulqadir Maigari, for breaching the law of the traditional council despite several warnings.

In a statement on Monday, the Secretary of the emirate, Ibrahim Sheikh, noted that the dismissal took effect from May 25, 2021.

He explained that the emirate had written to the Niger State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs on May 28, seeking the approval of Governor Abubakar Bello, to remove Maigari as the village head of Muye.

According to Sheikh, the dismissal of the village head was conveyed to him in a letter dated May 29 and signed by the Etsu Lapai, Umar Bago Tafida III.

“I write on the directive of his Royal Highness, Etsu Lapai and Chairman Lapai Emirate Council to inform you that in exercising the powers conferred on the Emirate Council under Section 80 Sub- Section 2 of Niger State Local Government Law, 2001 (as amended), and on the approval of the Executive Governor of Niger State that you are dismissed and removed as the Village Head of Muye,” the letter read.