Bandits have invaded Gwaji village, Ibbi Ward, Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, kidnapping about 30 persons.

Mohammed Danlami, media aide of the Mashegu LGA chairman, told FIJ that the armed group struck early on Friday morning.

“They came in as soon as 4:30 am this morning, shooting into the air. I can confirm to you that no life was lost, but 30 people were kidnapped and many others are missing,” he told FIJ.

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“This was the second attack on Gwaji village. The terrorists attacked Gwaji village around last January. That time, they did not kill or kidnap anyone, but they looted shops and food stores.”

Twelve among the 30 kidnapped persons are Danlami’s family members, a source told FIJ. Danlami confirmed the information, adding that there were two nursing mothers among them.

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FIJ had reported the influx of bandits fleeing Zamfara into Kaduna and Niger State. Since the report, the terrorists have struck in two Niger communities.

On January 5, the criminal elements killed two local workers and abducted two Chinese expatriates working on a power transmission line along Zungeru, Gussase Village, Niger State.

The second attack was carried out on Friday in Gwaji village.

A youth leader in Mashegu said the bandits that invaded Gwaji yesterday were likely to have entered the state through New Bussa forest, which directly links to Zamfara State.

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“They are known for travelling through the forests,” he said. “Say they are from Zamfara, they must have threaded Zamfara forests, through Mariga and Mashegu.”

The youth leader added, “Another route they could have used is the thick forests in Rafi-Kagara local council of Niger State”.

Another source said the abandoned Kainji National Park was an enclave for the terrorists.

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Mashegu is one of the troubled local government areas in Niger State. Some Villages villages in the local government area, including Tunga Ba’ari, Huldo Addogum Mallam and Mazakuka, were ransacked in 2021.

On December 8, the brazen terrorists killed about 16 worshippers in a mosque in Tunga Ba’ari village, a local told FIJ. This came a few weeks after 18 worshippers were gruesomely murdered in a mosque in Mazakuka village. However, Bala Kuryas, the Niger State Police Commissioner, said victims were only nine. He also said security officers had been deployed to the affected area to further safeguard lives and property.

Meanwhile, residents told FIJ there was no security presence in Gwaji village when the terrorists operated on Friday.

Wasiu Abiodun, the Niger State police spokesman, did not answer FIJ’s calls. At press time, he had also not responded to a text message sent to him.