Bandits have killed 14 people following attacks on Friday in villages in Kwata Ward, Wushishi Local Government Area of Niger State.
The bandits also rustled several cows, snatched motorcycles and kidnapped unnamed number of people, especially girls.
The death include women and children who were running escape the attacks but unfortunately ran into a river for safety but unfortunately got drowned.
Sources said the bodies of the victims were recovered from the river and buried while several others were still missing.
In addition, seven people were shot by the bandits when they invaded Kwata. Out of the seven, four were confirmed dead while two others were receiving treatment at the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna.
Following the attack, residents of the area have deserted their homes and hundreds of people are now refugees in Wushishi town.
The people are lamenting that despite repeated calls and reports to the security agents and government officials, no attempt has been made to protect the people, making the bandits so emboldened such that they are freely around the villages en-route Tashan Jirgin Wushishi to Kundu in Rafi Local Government Area.
In another incident, about 10 bandits attacked Batati in Lavun Local Government Area of the State, looting shops especially those along the major road to Mokwa. They carted away valuables including laptops and mobile phones.
Sources said that the bandits arrived at Batati in a white Hilux vehicle and performed congregational Isha’i (evening) prayer with members of the community before firing into the air, forcing petty traders and hawkers to abandon their places of business.
One person, who was at one of the shops to buy a recharge card, was injured by the bandits.
The attackers, according to the source, disengaged through Gbangbagi community to the forest of Fazhi and Kutigi, the headquarters of Lavun Local Government after several hours of operation.
Meanwhile, an attempt to get reaction and confirmation from the police was unsuccessful as calls and messages put across to the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, were not going through.