Pandemonium occured in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State as armed men suspected to be bandits reportedly killed one person and kidnapped no fewer than eight others.
According to a source in the community, the bandits are demanding N17 million in ransom.
It was gathered that the bandits struck while the residents were returning from the installation of the Chairman of Borgu Kingmakers and Chief Priest Bakarabonde.
The source explained that the terrorists, before whisking eight travellers away to an unknown destination, shot the driver of the vehicle conveying them dead.
The development was confirmed by the Chairman of Borgu LG, Alh. Sulaiman Yerima, who described the incident as painful and an unfortunate development.
In addition, Yerima stated that the bandits have made contact and are asking for N17 million in ransom.
He explained that the council had reported the incident to the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftain Affairs, who will, in turn, communicate it to all relevant authorities in the state.
According to Yerima, “the bandits have made contact demanding for the sum of N17m ransom. The question is, where will I get N17m from now?
“I advise drivers travelling on the roads in the local government to be on the alert, particularly those plying the roads at night. I advise them to speak with the local vigilantes of the council to help provide them with adequate security during such journeys.”
In another news, some men suspected to be members of a cult group have killed three youths in the Egbe community of Ubie kingdom, Ahaoda West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The killing was said to have been carried out by some Iceland members loyal to a said General Danger.
A community source disclosed that two men and a lady were first abducted in the wee hours of Monday after an argument ensued between them and the mother of General Danger, the cult leader in the community, who allegedly bragged to deal with them ruthlessly.
The source also said the corpses of the three victims were later found along Egbeh Road and Ebiriba Road hours after their abduction.
In the meantime, the mother of the cultist has reportedly fled the community.
Reacting to the incident, the Rivers State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the development, noting that an investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances that led to the killings and also arrest the perpetrators.