One abducted victim escapes as bandits kill cyclist, detonate IEDs in New-Bussa in Niger

One abducted victim escapes as bandits kill cyclist, detonate IEDs in New-Bussa in Niger

By: Zagazola Makama

One of the four abducted family members in the recent bandit attack at Baban-Rami in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State has escaped from captivity, security sources have said.

The sources identified the victims as Suwaiba Sahabi Buba Abdullahi, Khadija Sahabi Buba Abdullahi, Fatima Sahabi Abdullahi and Nafisa Sahabi Buba Abdullahi.

They said Nafisa Sahabi Buba Abdullahi had successfully escaped from the abductors, while efforts were ongoing to rescue the remaining victims unhurt.

The incident was a follow-up to an earlier attack in which the head of the family, Alhaji Sahabi Buba Abdullahi, was shot dead by suspected armed bandits.

In a related development, armed bandits reportedly detonated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) along a bypass road near a damaged bridge in the Luma National Park forest axis of New-Bussa.

According to the sources, the attackers also shot dead a cyclist plying the route, while a truck driver travelling towards Wawa unknowingly drove over another IED, which exploded and damaged the vehicle.

The whereabouts of the truck driver were yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this report.

Security operatives, including tactical teams and local vigilantes, have since been deployed to the area and are currently trailing the perpetrators.

Authorities said efforts were being intensified to secure the area, rescue victims and prevent further attacks.

One abducted victim escapes as bandits kill cyclist, detonate IEDs in New-Bussa in Niger