By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
In Niger state, suspected armed bandits in their hundreds, armed with sophisticated weapons have invaded the agrarian Akere communities in Zungeru, Wushishi Local Government Area (LGA).
The invasion is coming days after Governor Mohammed Umar Bago spoke on a national television assuring investors that the state is not only free from all forms of security threats but safe for investors as citizens move around freely and nobody complains about hunger and frustrations.
The armed bandits in their numbers, riding in hundreds of motorcycles with each carrying two or three of their partners in crime, took over communities around Akere axis of Zungeru, where they also killed two people including a member of the local vigilante group.
Local sources told journalists that the well armed miscreants, numbering almost two thousand, at about ten o'clock on Thursday morning, blocked the Minna-Kontagora highway at Kundu village which had served as their escape/connecting route where security operatives cannot interrupt or halt their movements while crossing to Akere towards Mashegu LGA.
While making swift their navigation into the interior, our correspondent learnt that the armed bandits shot three people on the suspicion that they were trying to alert security agencies, killing one civilian and a vigilante while the other civilian who narrowly escaped is responding to treatment at a health facility in the area.
The source also stated that the security situation in the area is tense hence the number of casualties can not be immediately ascertained because 'nobody can tell what happens to scores of people that scampered into nearby bushes for safety'.
Some of the villagers who spoke on the condition of anonymity expressed concerns over the large number of armed bandits, with hundreds of motorcycles crossing over to Mashegu unchallenged in broad daylight.
"This is the first time in history to see such influx of armed bandits, in twos or three in a motorcycle, and each of them carrying sophisticated weapon trooping into our area", one of the villages who had escaped through the bush paths stated.
The escapee who is pleading with the state and federal government to end the siege and reign of terrorists in the area said, "The entire Akere and neighbouring communities is a-no-go area for now. People could not move beyond where they are, many people, including young and old, men and women are stranded in Zungeru town as I'm talking to you".
Expressing worry that law abiding citizens can no longer move freely in search of their daily bread, the source called for immediate deployment of security operatives to safeguard the area for people to return to their normal daily activities.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger State Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun could not confirm the developments when contacted by journalists.
The Command's PPRO had promised to verify from the Zungeru Divisional Police Officer (DPO), but could not get back to our correspondent as at the time of filing this report. NNL.
