By Ado Oyeyemi
Suspected bandits have reportedly beheaded one of more than 100 residents abducted during an overnight attack on Shadadi and neighbouring communities in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.
The attackers, who invaded the communities on Friday, also imposed a N50m levy on residents as a condition for accessing their farms during the ongoing farming season.
The victim was allegedly killed after his relatives failed to meet the ransom demanded for his release. The bandits initially requested 10 jerry cans of 50 litres of petrol, but the family could only provide six, which they rejected.
The kidnappers later demanded two additional cartons of engine oil. However, after the relatives eventually returned with the requested items, the abductors reportedly refused to release the victim and instead handed over his severed head in a polythene bag.
The bandits reportedly instructed the relatives to take the head to the village head of Shadadi, Ya’u Guskum, and provided a telephone number for the traditional ruler to contact them.
Guskum confirmed the incident, saying the attackers threatened to kill more of the abducted residents if the N50m levy was not paid.
He said, “Those who took the ransom only returned with the severed head of the victim.
They instructed them to bring it to me, promising to behead more people in their custody if we failed to pay the N50m levy imposed on us.”
The Niger State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said he would obtain details of the incident and respond, but had yet to do so as of press time.
Meanwhile, suspected terrorists reportedly killed 13 people in separate attacks across Jos South, Mangu and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State over the weekend.
In Mangu, a 55-year-old man identified as Godfrey Gumut was reportedly shot in his home before the attackers beheaded him and fled with his head.
Residents and vigilantes were said to be searching surrounding bushes and hills for the remains.
In another attack at Dungus community in Jos South, nine passengers travelling to Jos were killed when suspected terrorists opened fire on their commercial vehicle around 9:40pm on Sunday. Several others sustained gunshot injuries.
The publicity secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the attack, saying one of the victims was a member of Operation Rainbow.
Four other people were also reportedly killed in attacks on Kikyau, Ntul and Kinat communities in Mangu.
The Mwaghavul Youth Movement identified the victims as Pius Dachen, Zadok Irimiya, Kitbam Titus and Gumut.
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The group expressed concern that the attacks occurred shortly after the General Officer Commanding, 3 Division, Nigerian Army, held a security meeting with Mwaghavul and Fulani leaders in Mangu and warned against further violence.
