SUSPECTED ILLEGAL MINERS RAID NIGER STATE ESTARE, STEAL VALUABLES. (PHOTO).

 Suspected Illegal Miners Raid Niger Estate, Steal Valuables

A group of over a dozen armed robbers, believed to be illegal miners, stormed the MI Wushishi Estate in Minna on Saturday, robbing six flats and making off with valuables and cash. The attack, which occurred around 2 a.m. and lasted for more than an hour, unfolded without any intervention from security forces.

Residents of the estate, which has more than 700 flats, have voiced increasing frustration over the repeated raids, which they attribute to illegal miners drawn to the area’s rich gold deposits.

One resident, Abdullahi Abubakar, recalled a similar attack in November, when robbers ransacked several homes. "The illegal miners have made it impossible for us to live peacefully," he said.

Dan Yaya, the son of a former Niger State Head of Service, shared his terrifying experience during the raid. He described how one robber, who pretended to be a vigilante, was spotted outside his home. Soon after, two others jumped over the fence and entered the compound. The robbers threatened his family, forcing him to hand over N29,000 and mobile phones.

Yaya also suspected that the robbers had prior knowledge of the estate's layout, as one of them wore a face mask and seemed familiar with the area.

Muhammad Bello, the Commissioner for Homeland Security, confirmed the attack and assured residents that security forces were addressing the situation. However, Niger State Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun stated that no official report had been filed regarding the robbery.