Ten Farmers, Including a Chinese National, are Decapitated by Bandits in Niger State, and Their Heads Are Carted Away.

At least ten farmers, including women and a Chinese national, have been killed by bandits in the villages of Wayam and Belu-Belu within the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State. Reports from residents indicate that six of the deceased were beheaded, with the assailants taking their heads with them. Several injured individuals were transported to a clinic in Kagara, the administrative center of Rafi LGA, as reported by Daily Trust. The attack took place around 5 a.m. on Tuesday during morning prayers. Bala Tukur, a local resident, stated, “In Wayam village near Madaka under Kagara town, they brutally murdered ten people and injured many others. The manner in which they killed us is deeply traumatic, I assure you. Everyone has fled.” He added that “many individuals have been unable to harvest even 50 percent of their crops, including maize.” Recently, villagers in Kukoki were compelled to pay N1.5 million to harvest their crops, only for the bandits to return shortly thereafter. Local sources have reported a rise in attacks as farmers in the Wushishi, Rafi, Shiroro, Mariga, and Kontagora LGAs commenced their harvests. On Friday, bandits raided Zungeru in Wushishi LGA, moving through residences and a hotel, abducting occupants. A resident of Zungeru recounted, “Around 12 a.m. on Saturday, bandits invaded Zungeru town… they abducted Saidu Yakubu, known as Abacha, along with his wife.” In response to these incidents, Brigadier General Bello Abdullahi Mohammed, the Commissioner for Homeland Security, confirmed that the Niger State Government is aware of the situation and that all security stakeholders have been mobilized. According to SaharaReporters, when they reached out to Wasiu Abiodun, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, he stated that he required time to verify the report.