Terrorists killed 13 vigilantes in Mariga local government area of Niger State when they tried to invade the community on Thursday morning.

The terrorists also abducted commuters from five vehicles when they blocked the Minna-Kontagora road on Thursday afternoon. The number of people abducted is still unknown.

The Nation learnt that since the rebuttal of the Army over the occupancy of the military training camp in Kontagora, the bandits have come out in full rampage, unleashing terror on residents.

On Wednesday evening, a military officer was abducted in his farm while nine other farmers were abducted with three of them killed.

Niger Speaker Abdulmalik Sarkindaji has told the Army to stop living in denial over the presence of bandits in its training ground in Kontagora.

He said evidence on ground has revealed that the bandits are occupying parts of the military training camp.

Sarkindaji, who represents Mariga Constituency where most of these attacks have taken place in the past three days, alleged over 20 people were abducted during the blockage of the Minna-Kontagora road by bandits.

He said that the blockage of the road occurred between Baban-Lamba and Beri, adding families of some victims previously kidnapped informed they had taken ransom to bandits several times in the forest which was part of the military training camp.

The Speaker also said the passengers kidnapped on Thursday during the blockage of the road were also moved to the same forest which was part of the military training camp.

He called on the Army to act fast in flushing out the bandits from the forest instead of dismissing and refuting the complaints and observations of the people.

?As members representing our people, we get feedback from our constituents of their plights. So, before we present anything on the floor of the House, we have done our investigation very well.

?It is not as if we are underrating the military capacity to fight bandits and terrorists but it is not right to just dismiss the complaints of our people. We want the federal government and concerned authorities to know their plights.

?The communities said the military training camp had become a safe haven for bandits who always come out of that forest to attack them, kidnap people and take them to the same forest. Even the kidnapped victims that were released after the payment of ransom said they were taken to the same bush and they could sight the Kontagora Army Barrack from where they were kept by the bandits.

?What we expect from the military was to seek more information about what victims have told us and flush the bandits out. But you cannot just come out to refute what a member of House of Assembly had said.

?Let me tell you, as military refuted what one of our members said Wednesday, on Thursday, October 31, bandits blocked the road between Baban-Lamba and Beri and kidnapped all Passengers in five vehicles. More than 20 passengers were kidnapped and taken to the same forest. From Kontagora to Beri is a vast land belonging to Army Barracks Kontagora.

?So, refuting the complaint of people is not right. The military should do the needful and flush out these criminals. The military is made to protect the people. So, we will continue to speak out to let the federal government and all stakeholders know the plight of our people,? the Speaker said. (The Nation)

Update news