A horrifying attack on Unguwan Mai-Gero village, a mining community in Niger State’s Rafi Local Government Area, by Boko Haram terrorists has left at least nine farmers dead, with several others still missing.
The attack, which took place on Wednesday afternoon, targeted internally displaced persons who had gone out in search of food.
Ibrahim Rabi’u Bassa, an eyewitness and displaced person from Bassa village, recounted the terror as heavily armed terrorists stormed the area on motorcycles.
“They came and plied Bassa with motorcycles and divided themselves while three motorcycles entered the community without stopping anyone,” he told The Whistler.
The terrorists reportedly asked women for the location of the men before proceeding to kill nine residents of the neighboring Allawa village.
Bassa also shared the gruesome details of the attack on Unguwan Mai-Gero, where the terrorists separated Allawa residents from others and executed them.
“We will bury the remaining bodies while other unconfirmed numbers are still missing,” Bassa lamented.
Usman Abubakar Allawa, who lost four brothers in the attack, described how the terrorists shot victims in the head and even plucked their eyes out.
“It is from that attack that their eyes were forcefully removed by bullets fired by the terrorists who wore military clothes,” he said.
The terrorists’ continuous attacks have forced residents to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighboring villages, where they attempt to farm and mine to survive.
The deceased victims, including Suleiman Abubakar, Mubarak Isah, and others, were killed while preparing to farm near the river.
Yahuza Garba Azumi, a concerned youth, revealed that the terrorists, shouting “Allahu Akbar,” shot victims at close range and pursued those who tried to escape into the river.
“They attacked them while fleeing for their lives, many of them stopped at the riverside waiting for a canoe to pick them up,” Azumi said.
For months, residents of Allawa and other communities have abandoned their homes, as terrorists continue to occupy their farms and properties. Despite promises of military intervention, the local population remains in despair.
Ibrahim Usman Kuta, chairman of the Shiroro Youth Coalition, confirmed the incident but noted that the exact number of missing persons remains unknown.
“We only know that we have buried nine because of the way the attack came in,” he said, adding that more victims are likely yet to be found.
The ongoing violence has left communities devastated, with little hope for immediate relief as the government struggles to address the growing insecurity in the region.
