Published 21st Jan, 2022

By Yakubu Mohammed

At least three persons were killed and 30 others kidnapped by gun-wielding terrorists who laid a siege to a market in Manigi District, Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, on Thursday.

A source, who asked not to be named, said bandits on motorcycles invaded the village’s market at about 3:00 am on Thursday. “The market opens on Friday and people from other villages often pass the night there on the eve of the market day,” he told FIJ.

Sources said the three people that died were killed in their sleep, and that the perpetrators robbed some of the people they met in the market. Seven shops were looted and 30 people abducted, they also said.

FIJ learned that families of kidnapped persons in Manigi village are expecting calls from bandits for ransom negotiation, and that half of the 30 villagers earlier kidnapped in Gwaji village, in the Mashegu Local Government Area of the state, have been freed after meeting ransom conditions.

A source who would not want his name in print said 13 out of the 15 people released are from one family. “For the 13 people, the bandits collected N8 million, N200,000 airtime and N70,000 alcohol,” he said.

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