About-to-wed ladies among 19 abducted in Niger

Bandits struck yet again in Niger State, taking with them 19 villagers.

Two of the female abductees were billed to wed this weekend, The Nation was told.

The abduction took place on Monday in Kutunku, a village in Wushishi council area of the state.

The gunmen stormed the village on motorcycles shooting as they came.

They roughened up some of the villagers, ransacked their homes for cash and foodstuff, and whisked away 19 residents, a source said.

The source said the community and the families of the abducted persons were yet to be contacted by the gunmen at press time.

Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun did not take calls on his cell phone.