Gunmen kill 13 farmers in Niger

Some suspected unknown gunmen have killed 13 persons on their farms at the Ijuwa fringes of the Alawa community of the Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State.

The LGA Chairman, Akilu Isyaku, confirmed the killing of the 13 farmers in an interview with a local radio station in Minna on Wednesday.

He said the bandits shot nine of the victims to death while four others were killed at a different location the same day.

A local who spoke to Channels Television also said the bandits targeted the community over allegations that members supply intelligence to security agencies on bandits’ movements.

Meanwhile, the Niger State Acting Governor Yakubu Garba has described the attack as satanic and callous.

Garba, in a statement, commiserated with the affected families, community members and the entire people of Shiroro LGA over the unfortunate incident.

This attack occurred at the time farmers are expected to spend more time on their farms. It was gathered that several other farmers far away from the scene of the attack have deserted their farmland for fear of attack.