Bandits stranded with rustled cattle in Niger after clash with military

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

The bandits that engaged the military during an attack in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger state have ran out of fuel, stranded with their rustled cattle in the area.

Chairman, Mariga Local Government Area, Alhaji Abbas Adamu Kasuwar Garba, stated this in a telephone interview with our reporter on Thursday, in Minna.

Garba, said the bandits who were stranded around the villages of Kakihum, Magarya and Mumbashi some ten to fifteen kilometers away from Bangi, headquarters of Mariga Local Government Area, have abducted women demanding for fuel from their family members as ransom.

According to him, the family members were afraid not to take the petrol to the bandits as ransom for fear of being arrested by the security operatives.

The council chairman, however, explained that though the military personnel are together with them, but they are still strategizing on how to confront the bandits to avoid more casualties from their side.

He noted that Governor Mohammed Umar Bago had contacted the Minister of Defence Badaru Abubakar in Abuja seeking for additional reinforcement to address security challenges in the state.

It would be recalled that for the past three days, the people of Mariga Local Government in Niger state have been under siege, vehemently demanding for military solution as a step towards restoring peace and stability in the area.