Gunmen suspected to be bandits have attacked Bena village and surrounding areas in the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Kidnapping no fewer than 16 people.
The Secretary of the Security Committee in Wasagu, Lawali Umar, while confirming the incident, said the bandits ambushed victims working on their guinea corn farms and took them hostage.
Umar said that in a separate recent attack, bandits raided the Tudun Wada area, abducting six people.
Responding to the incident, army personnel engaged the bandits in a gunfight, repelled the attack and rescued six abducted individuals.
While some of the 16 originally kidnapped managed to escape, approximately nine are still being held, with the bandits demanding an undisclosed ransom.
Umar appealed to the Kebbi State Government to reinforce security in key vulnerable areas, particularly Yar Maitaba, Mai Rai Rai, and Tungar Sabo, which he described as known strongholds for the bandits.
“We commend the state government’s efforts against banditry, but with the guinea corn harvest season upon us, our farmers need better security,” he appealed.
Meanwhile, the Kebbi State Police Command spokesperson, Nafiu Abubakar, is yet to comment on the incident at the time of filing this report.