How terrorists killed six women in a village in Niger, kidnapped and raped almost 200

In coordinated attacks, terrorists killed no fewer than six people, abducted 160 others and raped at least six women in Kuchi village in Munya Local Government Area of ​​Niger State between Friday and Sunday, survivors told PREMIUM TIMES.

The terrorists were spotted on motorcycles near Kafana, a village on the state’s border with bandit-infested Kaduna State, as they advanced towards Kuchi.

Poorly armed local forces, described by locals as “Yan Sakai,” engaged in a fierce firefight with the terrorists, preventing them from attacking the community.

After the shootout, which left three civilians and three local security forces dead, the terrorists withdrew in a disorderly manner after suffering a loss, as the leader of a grassroots party put it.

While he mourns the victims of the attack, Congress of all progressives (APC) in Munya LGA, Saidu Idris, praised the local security forces who he said had killed “many of the terrorists”.

The return of the terrorists

After stealing cattle from the neighbouring villages of Bodo and Kurbagu, the terrorists returned to Kuchi at around 9pm on the same Friday, abducted at least 160 locals and drove them into the forest amid heavy rain.

Mr Idris, the APC leader in Munya, said the terrorists might not have kidnapped anyone “if there had been cattle to steal”.

According to him, the cattle owners fled with their animals when they heard that terrorists were approaching.

On Sunday, the terrorists returned to the village around 10 p.m. and were active until the next morning.

In the attack on Sunday, traditional village chief Idris Barde and his wife were kidnapped.

However, they later released him and he left with his wife.

“They raped women and girls”

Two survivors of the attacks said the terrorists looted numerous shops and raped at least six married women and four girls.

Ibrahim Alilu, one of the displaced people from Kuchi, reported how a young girl was gang raped in his compound.

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“The terrorists locked many of us in a room and vowed to get us as soon as they finished raping the girl,” Mr Alilu, who is now taking refuge in Gwada in Shiroro County, told PREMIUM TIMES by phone.

“In that scary moment, we had the chance to escape through the window,” he added.

Mr Alilu continued: “The girl was taken along with other abductees to a village called Zawuna where she was released.”

The report was confirmed by another displaced villager who wished to remain anonymous for fear of becoming a target of terrorist informants.

However, she could not say how many women and girls were raped by the terrorists. She only stated that a woman she knew had been raped, without giving any further details.

When contacted, Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Garba Abdullahi, told PREMIUM TIMES that the state government was working on a measure that “if not permanent, at least represents a long-term solution.”

“We are involved day and night,” added Mr Mohammed, a retired major general.

One of the concerned youth in this axis, Murtala Kabeer, pleaded with the government to set up a strong military base to keep terrorists out of the area.
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