Bandits’ assaults on Garam, a neighborhood in Niger State have continued unabated forcing residents to desert their properties.
Garam, which shares a boundary with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has been underneath extreme assaults from the bandits since December 24, 2023.
Recall that on Saturday, December 24, bandits invaded Garam neighborhood, which is a five-minute drive from Bwari, killing a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God whereas kidnapping 13 different individuals.
On Thursday, December 28, bandits once more invaded Kuduru, in FCT, kidnapping 18 individuals.
Equally, on Friday, December 29, bandits invaded Azu, killing three individuals and kidnapping eight others.
Nonetheless, following the ceaseless assaults, residents of the neighborhood determined towards observing crossover service on December thirty first.
A resident of the neighborhood who pleaded anonymity mentioned most church buildings within the space noticed the crossover service between 5pm and 8pm whereas a handful of church buildings with sufficient safety noticed the crossover service between 10 pm and 4am.
The supply added that the bandits returned on January 2, 2024, kidnapping an entire household, including that the troopers stationed in Azu, a neighbouring neighborhood, solely arrived after the bandits had left.
The resident mentioned: “As a result of concern of bandits, most church buildings didn’t observe crossover service on December thirty first. Some church buildings observe the service between 5pm and 8pm. It was solely MFM that noticed the service from 11pm until 4am.
“Although troopers patrol the neighborhood through the day, it has not stopped bandits from attacking the individuals at night time.
“On January 2, an Igala man was attacked and the bandits kidnapped his entire household. They got here with their instruments to pressure the gate of the home open. They operated for two to three hours. The sound of their gun pressured the vigilante to flee. The troopers arrived after that they had left.”
One other resident mentioned persons are transferring out of Garam in droves whereas those that constructed homes there have sought refuge somewhere else.
He mentioned the sprawling neighborhood is now being abandoned because the army seems to have run out of concepts to tame the bandits.
The supply added that it seems the bandits are concentrating on these with vehicles who can simply muster ransom funds if kidnapped.