The Emir of Kagara in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, His Royal Highness Alhaji Ahmad Attahiru, is well and hearthy after bandits attacked his palace on Tuesday.
The royal father’s elder brother, Alhaji Mohammed Attahiru Garba, stated this in an exclusive interview with NATIONAL ACCORD in Abuja, shortly after the incident, but declined to disclose the current location of the mornarch.
Garba said that contrary to earlier reports that the bandits attacked at about 7:00pm, “the gunmen struck around 3:00pm yesterday,” adding that the heavily armed gunmen came on 20 motorcycles each carrying two attackers, “while my brother was away” in Minna”, the state capital.
He also revealed that scores of residents sustained various degrees of injury while scampering for safety as the attackers opened fire, shooting sporadically.
“For now, I cannot confirm more than one death, and most of the eye witneses are still hidding in forest areas and telecommunication service to the area has been cut-off,” he said.
He told NATIONSL ACCORD uuuujjjjjjjjju that the fatality involved a “POS operator in front of the Emir’s palace who was shot on sight by the bandits”, and leavin. behind bullet holes on n the ceiling and other sections of the building.
He described the incident “as unfortunate”, saying the “Emir is a peace loving person whose priorities amongst other things include the promotion of peace and harmony that will invariably bring about development in the area”.
According to him “we appreciate the overwhelming show of solidarity by members of the public.
“Besides, we commend the Niger State Government as well as security agencies for their efforts to ensure normalcy in the the town”, he stated.
He then called on all and sundry in the area to continue to give the Emir their support with a view to forestalling such incident”, saying the royal father is committed to bringing a new lease of life to the people through synergy with relevant stakeholder”.
National Accord recalls that HRH Ahmed Attahiru, was announced Emir of Kagara on Friday, April 9, 2021and official letter of appointment presented to him on Monday, April 13, following the death of his predecessor, Alhaji Salihu Tanko, on March 2, this year.
Communities in Niger State, North-central Nigeria, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states in the North-western part of the country have lately been under frequent attacks by bandits who kidnap residents for ransom, rustle cows and other acts of pillage.
In response the Nigeria Army and other sister security agencies have stepped up campaign against banditry in the affected states, terrorism in the North-east as well as insecurity in other parts of the West African nation.