Boko Haram invades Niger village, kills and kidnaps many

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have ransacked Pissa village in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State this morning. They killed an unspecified number of locals and kidnapped others including women and children. Local sources say the attack started early morning on Saturday.

According to WhatsApp voice messages from fleeing villagers, the terrorists number more than 100 and have threatened to attack nearby villages Kabe and Sukumba. One man speaking from hiding said the terrorists overpowered local vigilantes and lamented that military personnel have not been deployed yet. Another villager said in a voice note: "They are still here, taking women and children. They are killing some and burning our houses. But no help has come. Our aircrafts are useless."

A local security guard in Wawa said the only bridge linking Wawa to the villages was blown up by Boko Haram about two months ago, making road access impossible. Only military aircraft can reach them, he said, but neither land nor air forces have arrived. The Niger police command has not issued a statement. This is the same Boko Haram franchise led by Mallam Sadiku that has been terrorising the Kainji Lake National Park area since last year. How many more villages must burn before our government takes this seriously?