About fifty bodies of dead vigilante members have been recovered by soldiers and residents of Koton Kobo in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger state.
The vigilantes were said to be returning from a search operation when they were way-laid by the Dogo Gide-led banditry group operating in Dutsen Magaji forest near Koton Kobo community.
Recall that Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, Secretary to the Niger State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Matane and security operatives had in February met with Gide and his gang members few days after fourty two persons, including students and staff members of Government Science College in Kagara were abducted.
“Contrary to media report, Gumi did not go to any forest between Tegina in Rafi LGA and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State in February. He met with bandits operating in Dutsen Magaji forest near Koton Kobo community in Mariga LGA and their leader is Dogo Gide, a former deputy to notorious armed bandit in Zamfara state, Buhari Tsoho, aka Buharin Daji."
“Gide is so powerful in that area that he collects monthly taxes from farmers and herdsmen. The recent attack was also carried out by him."
"After killing them (vigilantes), he refused to grant access to pick their bodies until soldiers stormed the forest on Thursday to collect the bodies. About 25 bodies have been recovered so far,” a military source had mentioned."
The source added that the gunmen also attacked a military post in the community, killing a soldier.
A resident of the area said over fifty bodies have been recovered.
He said a reinforcement team sent to rescue men of the vigilante group that were abducted also ran into an ambush and were killed the same way their colleagues were massacred.
“As at this evening, we have recovered over fifty bodies, it’s so sad. A soldier was also killed,” he said."
Vigilante groups have been formed across Niger to combat insecurity in the state.
Reviewed by Apeh Matthew
on
March 26, 2021
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