Updated: Gunmen attack Niger police station, emir’s palace, kill many

Gunmen on Wednesday attacked the palace of Ahmed Attahiru, Emir of Kagara, and the divisional police headquarters in the Rafi LGA of Niger State, killing three persons

The state Commissioner of Police, Monday Kuryas, has confirmed the incident.

Bandits were also said to have attacked Kachiwe village, before taking their onslaught to the adjourning communities where many were reportedly killed.

Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, who confirmed the Kachiwe attack in a telephone conversation, in Minna did not give the actual number of those who died in the attacks.

Mohammed Sani Musa, senator representing Niger East, has thus asked the Federal Government to be “very ruthless” with bandits.

Musa during an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday night said the security situation in the state had worsened.

Kuryas said the Rafi LGA incident occurred around 5.30pm on Tuesday, adding that “over 100 attackers” who came with dangerous weapons gained entry into the emir’s palace and the divisional police headquarters in the area.

He said a policeman and two civilians were shot dead during the incident.

He also said some gunmen attacked Kachiwe village in Sarkin Pawa headquarters of Munya LGA of the state.

Kuryas alleged that the bandits sneaked into Niger from their hideout in Kaduna State to carry out the attack.

He, however, said the command had yet to confirm the total number of casualties.

“I don’t have the actual number of people killed during the attack,” he said.

The commissioner added that the command was not resting on its oars in an effort to rid the state of crime.

He appealed to residents of the state to provide timely information on criminals to security agencies, adding that investigation into the matter had begun in order to track down the perpetrators.

He also said a team of policemen had been dispatched to the area to safeguard the lives and property of the people of Sarkin Pawa.