Bandits attack Niger communities, behead 10 farmers including Chinese National

Bandits have reportedly killed 10 farmers, including women and a Chinese national, in an attack on Wayam and Belu-Belu villages in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

It was gathered that six of the victims were beheaded, and the attackers took the severed heads with them. Many others who sustained gunshot wounds are receiving treatment at a clinic in Kagara, the headquarters of Rafi LGA.

Daily Trust reported that the attack occurred around 5 a.m. on Tuesday while the victims were observing their early morning prayers. Several people were also abducted during the assault.

A local resident, Bala Tukur, shared with the publication that the residents of Wayam, Belu-Belu, Madaka, and nearby communities have fled to Kagara town since the attack. He added that bandits have intensified their assaults over the past week as farmers from various local government areas, including Wushishi, Rafi, Shiroro, Mariga, and Kontagora, began harvesting their crops.

Tukur lamented, “In Wayam village, near Madaka, the bandits mercilessly killed 10 people and injured many others. The brutality of the attack is traumatic. Everyone has fled.”

He further noted that many farmers have not been able to harvest even half of their crops, including maize that was ready for harvest. “Harvesting those crops now will be very difficult,” he said. “Recently, residents of Kukoki had to pay N1.5 million just to be allowed to harvest their crops, but the bandits returned to attack them four days ago after they paid.”