Kagara town, the headquarters of Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, was attacked by gunmen early Thursday morning, killing one person and kidnapping nine others.
Among those kidnapped is the wife of the Education Secretary of Chanchaga Local Government Council, Alhaji Lawal Balarabe, who was abducted along with her one week old baby.
Three grandchildren of a former Commissioner for Finance in the state, late Alhaji Tanko Inga, were also victims of the kidnap.
It was also gathered that several people were injured in the raid which lasted many hours and into the early hours of the day.
One of those injured was described as a retired staff nurse with the General Hospital in the town who was shot in the leg.
The bandits invaded the local government headquarters on 27 motorcycles, shooting at random as residents ran for safety.
Witnesses said, “They went from house to house knocking on doors for the occupants to open for them.
“Entries were forcefully gained to houses that the doors were not opened and the occupants beaten mercilessly before their properties were carted away.”
In a similar development, gunmen on Wednesday attacked Uregi town, a few kilometres from Kagara and kidnapped several people, while hundreds of cattle were rustled.
A community leader in the area, who does not want his name in print said: “Three of my cousins are among those kidnapped; we are tired of this daily invasion. We cannot do anything with peace of mind. We are always afraid that we will be attacked.”
It was gathered that efforts to alert the Niger State Emergency Management Agency officials were not successful as their lines were not connecting.
Also, several calls made to the state Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Wasiu Abiodun, were not returned.