THE Niger State Police Command has confirmed one death and the abduction of two residents of Doma in the Lapai Local Government Area.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident today.
Abiodun said the deceased was a member of a vigilante team that, along with some police officers, attempted to rescue the kidnap victims.
“A police tactical team, with some vigilante members who were on rescue operation, engaged the kidnappers, but one of the vigilante members lost his life,” the PPRO said.
He said the abducted residents were working on a farm at the time they were kidnapped..
Appealing to residents to remain calm, Abiodun noted that the police were in pursuit of the fleeing abductors.
He assured the residents that the police and other security agencies would remain steadfast in the fight against terrorism, adding that persons with gunshot injuries should be reported at the nearest police station.
Niger is among the states in Northern Nigeria witnessing an upsurge in banditry and terrorism.
Many communities within the state have become hotspots for abduction and terror attacks over the past few years.
Lives have been lost, residents displaced and properties destroyed in the attacks, which have become commonplace in the state.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via vopara@icirnigeria.org or @ije_le on Twitter.