Gunmen attack Niger community, kill nine, burn houses

Gunmen have attacked some Fulani settlements in the Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, killing nine people and burning many houses.

Vigilantes from Maza-Kuka are fingered in the attack that occurred between Sunday and Monday.

It was learnt that the attacks could be a reprisal of the October 25 invasion of a mosque in Maza-Kuka, where 18 worshippers were killed and 13 others kidnapped.

The village head of Adogon-Mallam, a Fulani community, and his younger brother were killed after the attack at Maza-Kuka.

One of the victims, Shehu Mohammadu of Gawun village, was quoted by Daily Trust as saying, the “Vigilantes came to our village and burnt our rooms and we ran away. My younger brother’s wife, Hawawu, and her 10-month-old-baby were killed.

“They also killed my younger brother’s three-year-old son and his 10-year-old daughter. My younger brother, Aliyu, was also killed. They also killed my son, Mohammadu. He was 30 years. I lost seven members of my family. I had to run; they would have killed me too.”

Mohammed said 51 cattle, 63 rams, 53 goats and a motorcycle were taken away while his younger brothers, Abdullahi and Ali, also lost 38 goats during the attacks.

He said, “We have left the village. I live in a faraway place now. I won’t go back home because they will kill me. Some of our people are staying with relatives in Kontagora. We are afraid of going back to our settlements because they will kill us. We cannot even go to search for our animals.”