Gunmen attack filling station, abduct 3, kill 3 others in Niger

Suspected gunmen has attacked Al-Amin filling station in Pandogari town in Rafi local government area of Niger state, abducted the manager, one Malam Muazzam and three others, Daily Trust learnt.

The gunmen who attacked the station on motorcycles between 8:30pm to 9pm last Saturday night also killed three persons in their wake, residents disclosed.

Among those killed, according to Suleiman Muhammad, a resident, was one Abubakar whose wedding is two weeks away.

Our correspondent learnt that one of the kidnapped persons was set free when  the motorcycle bearing him and one of the abductors developed fault midway into the journey to their abode around Alawa forest in Shiroro local government area.

Malam Suleiman who spoke to Daily Trust on phone said the gunmen arrived the target filling station shooting sporadically into the air and had held sway for more than 30 minutes, adding that the police and military attached to the area only get to the scene after they had left.

He said the abductors have made contact with community leader and are demanding for N3 million Naira each before the two remaining victims would be released.

He said the latest incident was coming barely a week after three persons were abducted on their way from Alawa market.

He said the abductors demanded for N5 million but later accepted N700,000 and released the victims.

When contacted the state police command public relation officer, ASP Peter Sunday confirmed the incident, saying the gunmen were shooting sporadically and that out of the three people hit by bullets, one died while the remaining two are on admission at a hospital.

He also confirmed that three persons were abducted but said one of them was rescued by the police. DAILY TRUST