 |
Insecurity: 600 Villagers Displaced, Farmlands Seized by Armed Men in Niger Communities |
The Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in Niger State has disclosed that 600 villagers were forced out of their homes in Shiroro Local Government following an assault by armed men last Thursday.
The communities impacted are Lanta, Tunga, Dnakau, and Juweedna in the Erena area of Shiroro LG.
In a press release by Habibu Wushishi, the ministry's director of media and strategy, it was reported that the assailants are now compelling the villagers to cultivate the farmlands which were taken from them, without compensation.
Wushishi declared, “Niger State has been hit by another distressing and grievous attack by bandits in the villages of Lanta, Tunga, Dnakau, and Juweedna in the Erena district of Shiroro local government.
“The incidents took place on Thursday, June 20, 2024, around 5:36 pm, resulting in the theft of numerous cattle and sheep, though no abductions were reported. A number of residences in Lanta village were also set ablaze by the attackers.”
The ministry, expressing concern over the frequency of such attacks, mentioned that approximately 600 individuals displaced from these villages are currently taking refuge in the Erena and Kuta IDP camps, where they are being registered.
Information suggests that the armed men are emulating the notorious Boko Haram group in many villages, utilizing the abandoned Kaure and Kwaki communities as their strategic hubs.
