Bandits on Tuesday night shot dead five persons while abducting eight others at Kpampo village, near Gulu town in Lapai government area of Niger state.
A resident of Gulu, Shuaibu Usman, a relative of one of the abducted victims confirmed the incident through a telephone conversation with our reporter on Wednesday.
He said bandits in large numbers, wielding sophisticated weapons, rode into the community on motorcycles on Tuesday at 11:46 pm and started shooting sporadically into the air.
Usman said the bandits, who operated violently amid sporadic gunshots, killed five villagers who attempted to escape from their homes.
He said eight persons including two housewives were whisked away at gunpoint by the bandits during the raid.
Usman added that four persons also sustained gunshot injuries and were receiving treatment at a private hospital in Gulu town. Furthermore, some villagers who managed to escape the attack are taking refuge in Gulu town.
“As I am talking to you, four people that sustained gunshot injuries are receiving treatment here in Gulu town, ” he said.
He said the bandits also burgled some shops including pharmacies and carted away foodstuffs, drugs and wine.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, ASP Wasiu Abiodun, asked our reporter to give him time to find out about the incident from the DPO in charge of Lapai division and revert later.
News Band