Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Bandits have kidnapped 20 people and rustled several cattle in Rijau town, the headquarters of Rijau Local Government Area of Niger State.
It was gathered that the bandits operated unhindered for over three hours.
A source close to Rijau town, but preferred anonymity, said that the bandits, riding on motorcycles invaded the town at about 1:15pm and operated until 3:30pm.
He said the bandits went away with unspecified numbers of cows and other animals.
According to our source the bandits who were accompanied by women had trailed the villagers, who had earlier moved their cattle from the villages to Rijau town when they heard about the movement of the bandits only to be invaded by the gunmen.
It was further gathered that the bandits, numbering well over 200, divided themselves into groups and move from one part of the town to the other, dispossessing the people of their belongings.
Provision shops, Point of Service (POS) centres were attacked by the bandits with cash and other items carted away.
According to our source, the bandits were constantly hailed by their accompanying women, who demanded those who were strong enough to come out and challenge their men as sporadic shooting rented the air.
Women and children scrambled for cover, but about 20 indegnes were not lucky as they were taken away by the bandits.
Although nobody was killed, but source said that few people sustained gunshot injuries from stray bullets from the sporadic shooting.
While the operation lasted, it was alleged that security agents in the town ran away for cover even though no security post was invaded by the bandits.
It was gathered that an helicopter later started hovering round the town.
The helicopter which our source said he did not know its mission, arrived one hour after the bandits had escaped with their victims and looted items.
As at the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from either the government or the state police command over the incident.