Suspected hoodlums in Niger State have reportedly raided retailers, killed and maimed residents within the Maitumbi space of Minna, the state capital.
Eyewitnesses stated the rampage began on Friday and continued for the following two days, forcing a reign of terror within the space.
A tricyclist, Ifeanyi Nwosu, narrated to PUNCH On-line how he narrowly escaped demise when a number of the hoodlums attacked him whereas he was carrying some passengers.
“As I used to be driving my tricycle via the Maitumbi space, I had three passengers when about 4 of the hoodlums attacked us. They had been brandishing their knives and daggers, threatening to make use of them on us. They collected all of the cell phones of the passengers.
“What saved me was that I used to be swinging the tricycle, stopping the hoodlums from overpowering me. Certainly one of them even used his dagger to attempt to stab me, however within the course of, he destroyed the tricycle’s windscreen. I solely managed to flee from them. I might have been a lifeless man by now,” he narrated.
One other eyewitness, Musa Mohammed, narrated how the hoodlums who had been stated to be performing beneath the affect of harmful medicine beheaded a middle-aged man and his younger son, who they caught on the centre of the fracas.
In accordance with Mohammed, police operatives who had been invited to arrest the state of affairs had been additionally attacked by the hoodlums
“Earlier than my very eyes, the hoodlums beheaded a middle-aged man and his younger son. In addition they attacked policemen who got here to quell the disaster.
“They even vandalised their car, however the policemen fired teargas on the hoodlums to disperse them, however they refused to settle down,” he added.
PUNCH On-line learnt that a number of residents of the Maitumbi space couldn’t get residence on the evening of the incident as they needed to discover different locations to sleep for concern of the assaults.
The hoodlums reportedly broke into retailers, raiding wares and attacking those that tried to withstand.
Over eight residents had been allegedly killed whereas many others had been injured within the rampage.
The spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the assault to newsmen however couldn’t verify the variety of victims killed.
“There have been avenue fights, however the males of the state command had been capable of convey the state of affairs beneath management. 5 ring leaders of the struggle had been arrested,” he stated.
Abiodun stated particulars of the incident had been nonetheless rising, so he couldn’t affirm the variety of deaths or accidents.
