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TUNDE BOLAJI – MINNA
Bandits has again abducted a Catholic priest, Father Leo Rapheal with other travellers who were on their way to Sarkin Pawa, headquarters of Munya local government area of Niger state.
Father Leo is the parish priest of St Mary’s Catholic Church, Sarkin Pawa.
It was gathered that the armed men in their numbers, blocked the main road to Sarkin Pawa and several unsuspecting travellers ran into them.
Large movements of terrorists riding on motorcycles have been sighted by villagers the previous day, in villages of Munya Local Government area of the state.
Another source revealed that the terrorists were moving unchallenged, with each motorcycle rider carrying one or two persons, holding assault rifles and some of them wearing military camouflage uniforms.
This is coming barely a week after Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, paid a visit to the local government, assuring the people there that security will be provided to secure their lives and properties.
The governor’s visit was prompted by earlier attacks on some villages in Munya and Shiroro local governments by terrorists who killed and kidnapped several villagers when they were going to weekly markets in Chibani and Mutum Daya.
According to a source who spoke to newsmen in Minna about the incident, said a truck carrying log of woods from the forest was burnt down by the arsonists when the driver of the truck, on sighting them, abandoned the vehicle and ran for his dear life.
The council secretary of Munya local government, Mr James Jagaba earlier reported that the terrorists were seen by villagers around Chibani, Injita, Tsohon Kabula and Jesso.
Another source said they were also seen around Gini and Gunu axis.
The terror group were said to have attacked shops and food stores with no human casualties recorded.
A youth leader in the local government, who was involved in neighborhood security watch and who pleaded that his name should not be mentioned, said they got information that the terrorists were coming and would have ambushed them but they had nothing to fight them with.
“How can you repel or resist them with your bare hand or sticks. These are people who are moving with high calibre weapons and unless you are tired of this life and you want to die, you cannot come near them,” he added.
He said there was no security presence despite the government assurance that security will be provided.
it will be recalled that last week Sunday, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello visited IDP camps in Gwada and a security camp at Mararaban Dandaudu, assuring the people that new security measures were being put in place to secure the area.
A statement by his media aide said the governor told the bewildered villagers in the IDP camps that everything will be done to make them return to their homes soon, while also pledging to provide the local security network all the necessary support to counter the insurgents.Ends.
