By Wole Mosadomi

Minna—Five persons have been confirmed dead as cattle rustlers went on rampage in Gbada community in Kaure village, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

Vanguard gathered that the incident occurred at 3a.m., yesterday, in the village.

Besides those killed, unspecified number of other villagers were injured, while many have been declared missing.

According to a source, the rustlers, numbering about 30 and armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the community late in the night, catching the villagers unaware.

Their aim, it was gathered, was to rustle cows, sheep, goats and other domestic animals which they succeeded in doing after the midnight attack on the villagers.

It was gathered that the village had been under constant attacks by the rustlers in the past months, forcing the state government to raise a military patrol to the area.

It, however, has not stopped the attacks.

The Senator representing Niger East Senatorial zone, Mr. David Umaru, in a reaction, condemned the attack, describing it “as barbaric and heinous.”

Senator Umaru called on security agencies to apprehend the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Chairman of Shiroro Local Government Area, Alhaji Hassan Jagaba, who also faulted the attack, described it as “very devastating” and called for immediate reinforcement of security to the area.

Niger State Police Command spokesman, DSP Bala Elkana, who confirmed the attack, said before the police mobilised to the area, the rustlers had already fled to neighbouring Kaduna State.

He, however, said a manhunt for them had started and assured that they would be arrested.