Gunmen have killed a farm manager and kidnapped three other persons when they raided two farms in Niger State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the farm manager of one of the farms located on the outskirts of Sabon-Wuse community in Tafa Local Government Area whose name was not immediately given was said to have attempted to confront the gun-welding hoodlums when he was shot to death.
It was learnt the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday when the suspects stormed the farmhouses separately. The farm manager was said to have been killed in one of the farmhouses while the three farm hands were abducted in the other.
The commander of the security vigilante in Tafa, Hussaini Abubakar, who confirmed the incident on Wednesday told our correspondent that the gunmen had first abducted the three people and later shot the manager to death when he attempted to confront them as they were leaving the area.
“The manager was among the people who attempted to confront the gunmen, but in the process, he was shot to death,” he said.
Abubakar, who put the time of the attack at 2 am, said the suspects did not rustle any cattle in any of the farmhouses during the operation.
According to him, the gunmen were able to flee the area before the arrival of the police or the vigilantes, whom he said responded about 10 minutes later.
The Niger State Police Command spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, who also confirmed the incident on Wednesday to our correspondent said two persons were abducted but assured the people that the police were making efforts to rescue them.
“On August 11, 2024, at about 0100hrs, information was received that suspected armed men attacked a residence at Angwan-Aso, via Sabon-Wuse.
‘’The police patrol team attached to the Sabon-Wuse Police Division led by the Divisional Police Officer moved to the scene, but the hoodlums had escaped with the victims.
“It was also observed that during the attack, the hoodlums had an encounter with a security guard attached to a poultry farm in the neighbourhood, but the guard sustained gunshot injuries, while two victims were abducted.
‘’Unfortunately, the injured victim was taken to the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hospital in the town, where he was confirmed dead. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the abducted victims unhurt,” he said.
