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Enyioha Opara, Minna
Bandits estimated at 50 have attacked Kuchi community in the Munya Local Government Area of Niger State; kidnapping 17 persons in an operation that residents said lasted for over two hours.
It was gathered that those kidnapped during the Saturday attack included the parents of Yahuza Mohammed, a former chairman of the council; a medical doctor and two nursing mothers with their two-week-old babies.
A businessman, popularly known as Albakala, who had relocated from the community to Minna, the state capital, had four of his family members kidnapped.
A source told our correspondent on the telephone that the bandits overpowered the local vigilantes due to their large number.
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Enyioha Opara
A ward leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kampala village, Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State, Ahmodu Mohammed, has been killed by some bandits who also abducted his three daughters.
Seven persons were also reportedly killed in Kusasu in the Shiroro LGA on Friday night, while several houses of those who escaped the attacks were set ablaze by the hoodlums.
Those killed in Kusasu included two women and four men. They were said to have fled the attack and hid in the bush but were traced by the bandits and shot dead.
A source in one of the communities told our correspondent that a man said to be the driver of the bandits was arrested by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Shiroro on Friday.
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Borno uncovers 22,556 ghost workers after double verifications The Punch
NO fewer 2,556 ghost workers have been unearthed in Borno State.
This was the finding after two simultaneous verifications ordered by Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum.
The numbers of ghost workers were contained in separate reports presented on Wednesday to the governor by the Committee on Local Government Staff Verification chaired by Senator Kaka Malam Yale and another on primary school teachers chaired by Dr Shettima Kullima.
The findings revealed that 14,762 ghost workers were within the local government pay system, while 7,794 ghost teachers were also identified.
A total figure of over N420m was saved according to the data presented to the governor. The amount came from about N183.6m recovered in bogus teachers’ salaries, while another N237m was recovered from ghost local government staff.
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Enyioha Opara, Minna
Three persons have been killed and 33 others injured in a fatal road accident on Gwachipe Bridge in the Lambatta, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State.
The accident which occurred around 12 pm was allegedly caused by a speeding trailer which and lost control crashed on the bridge.
It was learnt the vehicle which was going to Lagos from Kano had 36 passengers on board including the driver.
The Suleja-Lambata outpost route of the Federal Road Safety Corps was said to have carried out the rescue exercise and moved the victims to hospital.
The Niger State Sector Commander, Joel Dagwa, disclosed that the crash was a lone crash which involved a commercial trailer without number plate.
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Enyioha Opara, Minna
THERE was apprehension in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State following Sunday’s killing of three persons, including the leader of a vigilante group, Mallam Isyaku Alhassan.
Many community members in Rafi have deserted their ancestral homes for fear of being attacked and abducted by the hoodlums.
It was learnt that the bandits in the recent attack had decided to remain in the communities, forcing many out of their homes and dispossessing them of their valuables.
Confirming the development on Monday, the Chairman of Rafi Local Government Area, Ismail Modibbo, said that bandits occupied Makurdi road in Wayam village and a road that linked to Hanawanka axis.