20 villagers fleeing from bandits drown in river in Niger state

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No fewer than 20 people, including women and children, have reportedly drowned in Guni-Zumba River yesterday morning as they were fleeing from bandits’ attack on two communities in Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.

Sources said the victims were crossing the river to Internally Displaced Persons camps in the boat.

One of the sources told reporters that 13 bodies had been recovered and buried.

Another source told reporters that the boat carrying mostly women and children, was loaded above its capacity and capsized in the middle of the river.

He decried the lack of security presence in the area even with the renewed attacks.

The Niger State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, had not responded to calls and a message sent to him as of the time of filing this report.