Scores of traders and customers were feared killed on Thursday by bandits who stormed a popular market in the Madaka community, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.
The attack happened two days after bandits were said to have attacked another community, Pangu Gari, during which they killed the district head and four other people.
The residents who disclosed the killing of the district head said they were still trying to come out from the tragedy when the Rafi market incident occurred.
Residents of the community who spoke on condition of anonymity said an unspecified number of persons were killed in the incident as the traders were taken unawares.
The bandits were said to have stormed the market at 3 pm when the market was at its peak and started shooting indiscriminately at the traders and their customers.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Bello Mohammed, confirmed the attack by the bandits without giving details.
He said the state government was working in collaboration with security agencies to put an end to the incessant attacks on farming communities in the state.
“Niger State Government and the security agencies are working to put an end to these incessant attacks on farming communities in the state,” he said.
Recall that bandits are still found in more than nine local governments in the state making life unbearable for farmers.
They have severally been reported to have killed farmers in the state, set farm produce ablaze, and demanded levies for the farmers to be able to go back to their farms.
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