Residents who spoke with journalists about the attack reported that the bandits got into the community in large numbers about 4 pm on Wednesday and continued their operation until 7 pm, during which an undetermined number of individuals were taken hostage.

The fleeing residents told Daily Trust that the attackers had earlier attacked Kaffin-Koro, Abolo, Kudani, Kuna, Shunakwa, Sikiti, Zubakere, and Jubidiga villages on Tuesday, where one person was killed in Sikiti, while lamenting the situation and the lack of security personnel to save the situation.

Dozens of farmers were reportedly abducted from the eight villages attacked.

Residents of the villages earlier attacked were taking refuge in Kaffin-Koro when the bandits struck again.

A resident, Abraham Tanko, said many of the villagers escaped into the bush.

“As I speak with you, we are in the bush. We were lucky to have escaped. They came in large numbers on motorbikes and raided the entire Kaffin-Koro town. A lady close to our house was among those they kidnapped. She was about to run when they threatened to shoot her and she fell,” he told newsmen.

In the early hours of Wednesday, the bandits also raided Shambo, Sabon Wuse, and Old Rijau in the state’s Rijau LGA.

The attack and casualties reported as of reporting time have not yet been confirmed by the state’s Police Command.

Additionally, when a journalist reportedly tried to call Emmanuel Umar, the Niger State Commissioner for Internal Security and Humanitarian Affairs, to confirm the incident, he was unreachable.