Eighteen persons killed in Niger Community by gunmen

Eighteen persons were allegedly killed in the early hours of Monday by armed gunmen at Maza-Kuka in Mashegu local government council of Niger State.

The armed men in the early hours of Monday, it was gathered invaded the village in large numbers and attacked the villagers, who were performing their early morning prayers.

DAILY POST learnt that the gunmen who came on motorcycles went straight into the Mosque and shot sporadically resulting in the death of residents.

An eyewitness account said the community was taken unawares by the bandits who left many dead and many others injured

Speaking on the attack, the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane said sixteen persons were killed in the mosque while another person was attacked at Kaboji village by the armed bandits.

Ahmed Ibrahim Matane explained that Niger State Government had already dispatched a team of military personnel to the area to trail the bandits who fled to the forest.

Also Confirming the incident, the former member Niger State House of Assembly, representing Mashegu constituency, Abdulkarim Maza_Kuka decried the attack and called for concerted efforts by all in defeating banditry and other criminalities in the state

Chairman Mashegu council, Alhassan Isa Maza-Kuka described the attack as devastating, while revealing that one of the injured persons in critical condition has been referred to Minna, General Hospital for medical treatment.

However, efforts to get the reaction of the State Police failed at the time of filing this report as the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun could not be reached.

Findings revealed that Maza_Kuka and Kulhu villages in Mashegu LG of the state are bordering Kianji lake forest, where it is believed the bandits are camped and are taking advantage of the porous nature of the forest to strike at will.