Three people were killed, and two rice farmers were abducted during a bandit attack on Sunday in the Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.
The incident occurred around 9:00 a.m. between Bangi and Kotonkoro, where assailants, believed to be bandits, blocked the road and opened fire on vehicles traveling along the route.
The victims included a car driver, a young girl, and a passenger identified as Alhaji Ibrahim. Reports indicate that they were en route to the market when the attack took place.
Shehu Kotonkoro, the owner of the vehicle, confirmed the incident and expressed concern over the lack of security in the area, noting that the attack occurred just 5 kilometers from Kotonkoro.
In addition to the fatalities, the bandits abducted two rice farmers who were working about two kilometers from the town.
The assailants also targeted another vehicle carrying bread during the assault.
The Chairman of Mariga Local Government, Abbas Musa Kasuwa-Garba, confirmed the attack and extended his sympathies to the victims’ families.
He emphasized the ongoing insecurity in the region, attributed to its proximity to Zamfara, Kebbi, and Kaduna states, where bandits frequently operate before retreating to their camps.