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Six persons killed, 700 heads of Cattle carted away as Cattle Rustlers attack Niger Community
Olabode Adaramola
Tragedy struck on Monday in Kukkoki village, a Fulanis settlement in Shiroro Local Government of Niger State,as some suspected Cattle rustlers numbering about 100 and heavily armed with sophisticated weapons invaded the village, killing Six people among whom were four Fulanis and two Hausas.
And in the ensuing confusion that enveloped the village during the invasion by the yet unidentified Gun Men who were said to have operated in a Command-like manner, scores of people which included several women and children suffered varying degrees of injuries in the attack which lasted for about four hours.
National Wire learnt that no fewer than 700 heads of cattle, goats and sheep were allegedly rustled by the invaders.
It was further gathered that the rustlers arrived the settlement at about 7am and started shooting sporadically into the air to scare away the members of the community in the operation that terminated at about 11am.
A source who pleaded for anonymity in a chat with our reporter said the operation did not end until about four hours later as every residents of the village and the neighbouring communities in the Council Areas were said to have run for dear lives.
“As a result, many of the villagers scampered into safety to near by communities and bush and in the process deserting their ancestral home”, said the source.
As at the time of filing this report yesterday in Minna, normalcy has gradually been returning to the affected Fulanis settlement and it’s neighbouring communities in te council Areas while the authorities of the Niger State Police Command were said to have brought the situation under control under control and appealing to the people who were allegedly schocked and gripped with palpable fears of further attacks, to return to their homes in the affected village.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Niger State Police Command, DSP Bala Elikana confirmed the incidence, saying two of the suspected rustlers have been nabbed by the police while efforts were ongoing to arrest their fleeing accomplice in crime with the view to bring them to book.
DSP Elkana stated this on Wednesday in a brief interview with our reporter by Telephone, adding that police presence have been increased in the community even as the Police Commissioner, Alhaji Zubairu Muazu had relocated to the affected village with some top officers of the command.
He however stated that the police was yet to have the actual figures of the rustled cattle, cows and sheep, just as he also confirmed the casualty figure.
