Father, Son Shot Dead, Many Abducted As Bandits Raid Niger CommunitiesYour support matters. Sustain independent journalism in Nigeria – contribute to Legit.ng. At least 17 people, including a father and son, were killed when suspected bandits raided villages in Mashegu, Lavun and Wushishi Local Government Areas of Niger state. Daily Trust reports that many fled their homes as a result of the attacks, which occurred between 12pm and 8pm on Saturday, February 26. In Mashegu Local Government, the villages attacked were Sahon-Rami, Igbede, Chekaku, Ubegi, Maishankafi and Poshi. The chief press secretary to the Mashegu LG chairman, Mohammed A. Isah, revealed the Chief of Staff to Mashegu Local Government chairman, Umar Ubegi, and his father were killed during the attack. Recommended for you Finally, Peter Obi's lawyers begin inspection of 2023 presidential election... Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng! Also killed was the Village Head of Poshi, and seven others in Sahon-Rami and Maishankafi. In Lavun Local Government Area, ten villages were reportedly attacked, leaving no fewer than three persons dead while 3 others were kidnapped. The villages attacked in Lavun Local Government were Egbako, Dabban, Kupa, Ndaruka, Tsogi, Mawogi, Yemi, Managi, Kanko and Gogaga. A resident of Egbako, one of the communities attacked, Yakubu Mohammed said “they started the operation around 12pm, moving from one village to another. For now, we have only discovered the dead bodies of three persons. They also went away with three others.” The affected communities are 36 kilometers away from Bida, and less than 30 kilometers from the palace of Etsu Nupe. It was gathered that the attacks disrupted the Batati weekly market, along Mokwa-Bida Road, as traders abandoned their goods and fled for their lives. Recommended for you 2023 presidential polls: How Nigeria's cyberspace suffered 12.9 million att... Efforts to get the Niger State Police Command is yet to confirm the incident. Legit.ng previously reported that at least 22 people have been abducted by bandits in an attack on Idon community of Kajuru local government area of Kaduna state. According to the report, bandits in large numbers invaded the community and shot sporadically to scare people away leaving four persons sustaining varying degrees of injuries. The attackers in the early hours of Wednesday, February 13, broke doors and windows, forcing their victims from their sleep before taking them away to an unknown destination, Meanwhile, the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, on Thursday, February 3, said the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) had uncovered 96 financiers of Boko Haram and ISWAP. Recommended for you "U and Regina saw the future": Paul Okoye's lover in Germany amid Psquare's... Mohammed at a briefing on the anti-corruption fight of President Muhammadu Buhari also revealed that the NFIU has exposed 424 associates/supporters of the financiers, 123 firms, and 33 bureaux de change linked with insurgency. Even more, the minister disclosed that the agency had identified 26 suspected bandits/kidnappers and seven accomplices, adding that 45 of the suspects will soon be prosecuted. Source: Legit.ng Suspected bandits have launched a fresh attack in Mashegu, Lavun and Wushishi LGA of Niger state This time, about seventeen persons were sent to their early grave as suspected bandits raided the villages This sad development which affected business activities in the affected areas is yet to be confirmed by the state police command Your support matters. Sustain independent journalism in Nigeria – contribute to Legit.ng. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng! Legit.ng