At least 17 people, including a father and son, were killed when suspected bandits raided villages in Mashegu, Lavun and Wushishi Local Government Areas of Niger State.

Many fled their homes as a result of the attacks, which occurred between 12pm and 8pm on Saturday.

In Mashegu Local Government, the villages attacked were Sahon-Rami, Igbede, Chekaku, Ubegi, Maishankafi and Poshi.

Chief Press Secretary to Mashegu Local Government Chairman, Mohammed A. Isah, told our correspondent that the Chief of Staff to Mashegu Local Government Chairman, Umar Ubegi, and his father were killed during the attack.

Also killed was the Village Head of Poshi, and seven others in Sahon-Rami and Maishankafi.

“They moved from one village to the other on motorcycles, killing and kidnapping people. They also rustled cows belonging to villagers. About 13 communities were sacked and people have fled. Tension is high in our local government now. These people have been operating since Friday. But only one village was attacked on Friday which was Sahon-Rami. The remaining villages were attacked today (Saturday),” he said.

In Lavun Local Government Area, ten villages were reportedly attacked, leaving no fewer than three persons dead while 3 others were kidnapped.

The villages attacked in Lavun Local Government were Egbako, Dabban, Kupa, Ndaruka, Tsogi, Mawogi, Yemi, Managi, Kanko and Gogaga.

A resident of Egbako, one of the communities attacked, Yakubu Mohammed said “they started the operation around 12pm, moving from one village to another. For now, we have only discovered the dead bodies of three persons. They also went away with three others.”

The affected communities are 36 kilometers away from Bida, and less than 30 kilometers from the palace of Etsu Nupe.

The attacks disrupted the Batati weekly market, along Mokwa-Bida Road, as traders abandoned their goods and fled for their lives.

Efforts to get Niger State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, did not yield results as his telephone line was out of reach.

Daily Trust