Bandits attack the emir of Zamfara, while Boko Haram destroys a military camp in Niger

Yesterday, suspected Boko Haram militants stormed the military base in Allawa town, Niger State’s Shiroro Local Government Area, forcing locals to flee their homes in fear of being shot or abducted.

This happened the same day when robbers attempted to kidnap Alhaji Mohammed Bunu, the emir of Zurmi, but were unsuccessful and he was taken by security personnel to Gusau, the state capital.

The rebels “invaded the town on motorcycles with not less than three on each bike fully armed,” according to reports of the Niger event, which occurred at around 1:30 am. It was reported that there were roughly 200 of them.

According to credible information obtained by our correspondent, the armed men appeared to have gone on a retaliation mission after the military last week eliminated roughly fifty of them in a ferocious combat in the area.

Our journalist was informed by an eyewitness in the area, who begged to remain anonymous, that a larger contingent of the rebels assaulted the military base and looted the personnel on duty, while others raided Allawa town and opened fire on homes.

Residents of the town and other nearby towns were hauled off with cash, food, and other easily accessible possessions.
The exact number of deaths reported in the village, on the side of the terrorists and the military, could not be determined as of yesterday’s press time.

“There was a fierce battle between the insurgents and the military and it was around 1:30 am. It lasted for some hours.
“Because it was midnight, the number of casualties could not be ascertained,” the eyewitness said.

The military camp, it was also gathered, had been deserted by the military personnel deployed to the area.
Consequently, residents of Allawa town and adjourning communities, such as Pandogari, Kukoki, and Bassa among others, have started fleeing the area to safe grounds.

Just last week, suspected Boko Haram members ambushed and killed two military officers and four soldiers at Karaga in the same Shiroro Local Government Area.

Efforts to get confirmation and response to the issue from the state police command through the spokesman, Superintendent of Police Wasiu Abiodun, proved abortive as his number could not be reached.

Bandits attack palace in Zamfara, but failed to kidnap Emir

Similarly, bandits yesterday attacked the palace of the emir of Zurmi, Alhaji Muhammed Bunu, but failed in their bid to abduct him.

A resident of Zurmi, Malam Aminu Sale, told our correspondent in a telephone interview, that the bandits went straight to the emir’s palace and started shooting sporadically.

Security agents whisk Emir away to safety

But, the Emir was whisked away by the security agents to Gusau.

The source said when the bandits could not succeed in abducting the emir, they destroyed one of the transformers and a telecoms mast network booster in the area.

According to the source, the bandits killed three people who were kidnapped during the incident.
He said the bandits, who entered the town at about 11:00 pm on Wednesday, also attacked the house of a former Military Administrator of Nasarawa State, Col Bala Mande, retd.

“We, the residents of Zurmi town, have witnessed a terrible situation in the bandits’ attacks. This is not the first time the bandits have entered Zurmi town, it is not the second time.

“Similarly, the bandits again on Wednesday night, attacked Maru town, the headquarters of Maru Local Government Council where they killed one person and kidnapped three people,” a resident of Maru town, who identified himself as Aminu Maru, told our correspondent on telephone.

According to him, the bandits spent more than two hours operating in the town without confrontation.