JUST IN: Bandits Kidnap 21 Travellers In Niger

Armed bandits have kidnapped 21 passengers traveling from Kontagora to Minna in Niger State.

It was learned that 21 out of 22 passengers were abducted in the attack, which occurred at about 2pm on Sunday. The bus was said to have been attacked at Yakila village in Rafi local government area of the state.

Sources told The Nation the gunmen stopped the bus and started shooting sporadically, asking everyone to disembark before heading them into the bush.

It was, however, gathered that a breastfeeding mother escaped.

The woman, who was traumatized by what she saw, explained the gunmen blocked the road, ordered them to come down, and went away with the other passengers saying she does not know why she was not taken along.

However, the Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Mallam Ibrahim Inga, confirmed the incident.

He said he met the incident when he was returning from Kagara for the revalidation of his APC membership in the company of the Chief of Staff to the Niger state Governor. Inga said that no government official was in the bus.