By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Suspected terrorist group has attacked Agwara local government area, killing one and razed down the United Missionary Church of Africa (UMCA) and a police station in the locality.
The attack in the early Sunday morning saw the terrorists setting ablaze the church building at about 6 o’clock after which they headed to another village called Sokonba close to Kabe where they recently attacked, leading to loss of lives and properties worth several millions of Naira destroyed.
The terrorists, according to sources from the area also carted away various food items and other valuables of the people and in the process of ransacking their homes killed one old woman in Kabe town.
Reacting to the recent attack, son of the late Emir of Borgu, Murtala Dantoro lamented that the repeated attacks by terrorists have turned the once-peaceful communities into places of fear and uncertainties and therefore called for urgent intervention by the state and federal governments.
“For how long do we continue like this? Innocent lives are being lost, farmers are no longer safe in their farms, they have abandoned their farmlands and almost all the economic activities have paralyzed".
Dantoro further decried that, "Families have been forced to flee their ancestry homes in search of safety inside the bushes and elsewhere, our people really need urgent assistance".
He further affirmed that security vacuum in the affected villages has emboldened criminals who now operate with impunity and little or no resistance thereby worsening the humanitarian and economic crisis in the area.
Also speaking, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger state chapter, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna has made an urgent and passionate appeal to the federal government, Nigerian Army and other relevant agencies to come to the aide of the people by immediately establishing a permanent military formation in Agwara to stem further attacks.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Niger State Command, SP Wasiu A. Abiodun confirmed tge attacks in a statement made available to journalists in Minna on Sunday.
"Armed bandits invaded Agwara community, attacked police station when they were engaged by the police tactical team on ground. Unfortunately they overpowered the team, used suspected dynamite to set the station ablaze".
"The terrorists later moved to the UMCA church in the community, burnt part of the church, proceeded to other areas and abducted about five persons whose identity is yet to be ascertained", the PPRO said, adding that monitoring of further developments in the area continues. NNL.
