By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Suspected terrorists have renewed their invasion of communities in Niger state, killing at least twenty-six people and destroyed properties worth several millions of Naira, including police station and residential houses.
The terrorists in their numbers, according to sources from the area started from Feyi village in Borgu Kingdom, set houses on fire and later headed to Tunga makeri and Nkpaso villages where they continued destruction of properties.
The criminals it was it was reliably gathered came in to the community, armed with sophisticated weapons on many motorcycles of twos or three each with sophisticated weapons, threatening and shooting sporadically into the scare away possible intruders.
The operation which is said to have started late Friday night through Saturday morning led to the killing of six people at Feyi, looted their properties unchallenged by security forces.
From Feyi village, the criminals moved to Tungan-makeri and Nkpaso villages both in Konkoso Ward, Borgu Local Government Area Saturday morning and killed about twenty more persons.
Not done with their wanton destructions, the terrorists headed towards the police station in Pissa in the locality set it on fire after which they took to their heels upon hearing sound of approaching helicopter moving towards their direction.
Our correspondent also learnt that some adjoining neighbourhoods have disappeared into nearby bushes and neighbouring communities from their ancestral homes for safety, while calling for help from the state and federal governments at all levels to as a matter of urgency come to their rescue.
Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said though they cannot give exact number of casualties, but they could count 26 bodies on their way running for safety.
"Nobody knows exactly the number of people that have died and number of persons abducted as it stands. The killibgs continue as they move from one location to another", the source hinted.
When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the attack but said only six persons were killed.
"The commant as at 6am received report indicating that at about 3am, suspected armed bandits invaded Tunga-Makeri village via Shafachi district Borgu LGA and during the attack, six persons lost their lives, some houses were also set ablaze, and a yet to be ascertained number of persons were abducted".
Wasiu further explained that, "The terrorists were also reported to have moved to Konkoso village, and other details still sketchy", adding however that joint security teams have been mobilised to the scene for assessment and rescue of the victims. NNL.
