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Bandits have reportedly killed 13 farmers in the Alawa community of the Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State following the leaking of their information to security agencies.
The bandits were said to have tracked down the farmers to their farms, and immediately killed them over claim that they supplied intelligence on bandits movement to security agencies.
The Chairman of the Shiroro LGA, Akilu Isyaku, confirmed the killing of the 13 farmers in an interview with a local radio station in Minna.
According to him, the bandits shot nine of the victims to death on the same spot while four others were killed at different locations on the same day.
A resident, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that the bandits targeted the community over allegations that members supplied intelligence on the movement of bandits to security agencies.
An unconfirmed statement quoted the acting Niger State Governor, Yakubu Garba, as describing the attack as satanic and callous.
Garba was also quoted as commiserating with the affected families, community members and the entire people of the Shiroro LGA over the gory incident.
Following the incident, many farmers have deserted their farmlands over fear of attacks by bandits.
