Armed bandits reportedly stormed a community in Mariga local government area of Niger State on Tuesday, killing a traditional ruler Alhaji Usman Abara, and 14 of his subjects.
The traditional ruler was said to be the District Head of Mohuro in the area before he was abducted by the heavily armed bandits who invaded his palace.
A villager who pleaded anonymity told journalists that the monarch was shot in nearby bush close to his Palace.
Accordding to the villager, “The armed men also killed about 14 and kidnapped others in the community.”
It was learnt that the bandits earlier demanded N50 million ransom from the villagers to enable them harvest their farm produce which the monarch turned down unknown to him that there was an informant among his subjects who reported back to the bandits.
“Some members of the community earlier approached the monarch, informing him that some of the bandits had requested them to pay N50 million before they will be allowed to harvest their farm products. The district head turned down it down saying that he will never allow them to pay any money to the bandits , insisting that he can never be a party to such extortion from the bandits,” the witness said.
It was gathered that the bandits felt that the district head undermined their request as result of which they stormed his palace, abduct and killed him.
In his reaction to the killing of the district head, the Secretary to the Government of Niger State (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, expressed shock at the death of the monarch.
He said security has been drafted to the community to ensure the safety of the locals and the neighboring communities.
The Commissioner of Police in Niger State, Mr Monday Bala Kuryas, while confirming the report explained that men of the Anti Kidnapped squad and other tactical units of the command has been drafted to rescue the abducted victims