- As armed bandits decapitate 6, abduct 13 in Niger state
While the Controller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Edo State Command, Martins Moye, has raised the alarm over the rising number of irregular migrants entering Nigeria., not fewer than 10 people were killed, six of whom were beheaded, and over a dozen more kidnapped by armed bandits in an attack in a community in Niger state.
Moyespoke at the 2024 Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) enlightenment campaign against irregular migration in Benin City, Edo State.
The theme of the event was “Say No to Migrant Smuggling. If You Must Migrate, Migrate Safely, Orderly, and Regularly.”
Speaking at the event, Moye emphasized the urgency of the campaign given the increasing numbers of irregular migrants.
Assistant Controller of Immigration David Amanahu, a facilitator from NIS headquarters in Abuja, also delivered a message from the Controller-General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap.
Amanahu noted, “The Controller-General’s message is clear: the NIS is now more focused than ever on border management and migration issues.”
Another facilitator, Deputy Superintendent of Immigration Woshak Danladi, outlined the severe dangers of irregular migration.
“Irregular migration can cost you your freedom, and in some cases, even your life.
“There’s a risk of organ harvesting, human rights abuses, and many more dangers,” he warned, urging officers to actively educate the public on these risks.
Meanwhile, the agents of terror stormed two communities in Rafi Local Government and broke into people’s homes on Tuesday said Abdullahi Nurudeen, a youth leader in Belu-Belu, one of the affected communities.
“They shot dead 10 people, but later they beheaded six of the victims,” he told Anadolu via telephone, adding that “the attackers also kidnapped over 12 people in our community and one more in Wayam, another village attacked by the bandits.”
Wasiu Abiodun, a spokesman for Niger State police command, confirmed the attack but did not say how many people were killed or kidnapped.
“Some people were kidnapped during the attack but we cannot ascertain their number,” he told Anadolu.
He said the bandits may have attacked in retaliation for joint security forces raids on their hideouts in Niger State the last weekend.
