Kidnappers kill three vigilantes trying to rescue Niger victims

Three members of a vigilance group have been killed by bandits and others injured in an attack on the Kpada community in Lapai, Niger State.

A resident of Kpada, Musa Hussaini, said the incident occurred on Friday, adding that a yet-to-be ascertained number of residents were also abducted.

He stated that the bandits carried out the attack while the indigenes were on their farms, adding that the terrorists burnt down a tractor that the farmers were using.

Hussain said after the attack, the bandits proceeded to the forest with their victims, which made the vigilance group members chase after them.

He added that during the search and rescue mission to the forest, the vigilantes and their commander were killed.

It was reliably gathered that three helicopters had been flying over the Kpada border with the Federal Capital Territory down to Muye border with Kogi State before the attacks.

As of the time of filing this report, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, had not responded to inquiries on the incident by our correspondent.

However, the state Commissioner for Internal Security, Emmanuel Umar, confirmed the incident and advised members of the community not to go after the bandits in the forest.

He also said security agents would help recover the bodies of the slain vigilantes.