Tension as bandits demand 5 cows, bags of crops to allow farmers harvest produce in Niger communities

Fear and tension has gripped four communities of Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State as some gang of armed bandits have demanded from the communities to make available their farm produce and cattles to them or risk deadly attack.

The communities include Gulbi Boka, Dusai, Bena and Bangi the headquarters of Mariga Local Government Area.

The demands of the armed bandits was coming barely one week after the deadly attacks on Muhoro community which resulted in the killing of the traditional ruler of the community, Alhaji Usman Abara and fourteen of his subjects.

The armed bandits sent a strong worded message to the four communities demanding from them five bags of their farm produce and five of their cattles or risk a deadly invasion of their communities in the next two weeks.

A resident of one of the community who pleaded for anonymity exclusively told CAPITAL POST that the message of the armed bandits have already put the entire four communities into palpable fear and tension.

According to the villager, the same gang of gunmen had last week sent to a neighbouring community demanding for N50 million from Muhoro community who are mostly farmers before they will allow them to harvest their farm produce, saying that their refusal to pay the money means attack on their communities.

The traditional ruler was contacted by the villagers informing him of the demands of the armed bandits which the traditional ruler turned down telling his subjects that he will not be party to the demands of the armed bandits.

Apparently, undermining their demands the armed bandits stormed the community, killing the traditional ruler and fourteen of his subjects abducting substantial number of women and children.

Tensions have rose to the feverish peak as fiindings revealed that the armed bandits have already laid a siege on the communities warning that they should In their own interest comply with their demands or be ready for attack in two weeks time.

Already, it was gathered that the four communities have been deserted as most of the villagers have abandoned their homes for fear of deadly invasion of their homes by the armed bandits.

Speaking in a telephone interview with CAPITAL POST in Minna, the Commissioner of Police in Niger State Mr. Monday Bala Kuryas said although the command has not received such report, but was quick to say the Command will not leave any stone unturned in fortifying more tactical squad to safeguard the communities.

He said the Command will mobilise men of the anti-kidnapping squad and other teams of the Command to ensure the safety of the communities.

He however appealed to the affected communities to report any unfriendly and suspicious movement in their communities to the appropriate security agencies for prompt action.