Heavily armed bandits have unleashed a wave of terror across Mashegu Local Government Area in Niger State, killing sixteen vigilante members and abducting more than forty residents in multiple coordinated attacks.
The violent assaults occurred between Sunday, November 9, and Thursday, November 13, creating widespread panic that forced numerous villagers to flee their homes for safety.
Coordinated Attacks and Deadly Ambush
According to local sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, the crisis began on Sunday when armed invaders stormed Dutsen Magaji village and kidnapped twenty-two residents.
Local vigilante groups immediately pursued the attackers, engaging them in a fierce gun battle that resulted in three vigilante fatalities. Five injured residents were rushed to medical facilities for treatment.
The situation escalated dramatically in the early hours of Thursday when the bandits returned, striking Magama village during dawn prayers. The attackers blocked worshippers inside the mosque and seized more than twenty people.
When vigilantes attempted to track the kidnappers, they walked straight into a carefully laid ambush. The bandits opened fire, killing thirteen vigilante members in the deadly trap and injuring several others.
Community Exodus and Official Response
The repeated attacks have triggered mass displacement across Mashegu LGA, with residents fleeing to nearby towns and safer settlements.
Villages reported to be completely deserted include Dutsen Magaji, Borin Aiki, Gidan Ruwa, and Magama. Many displaced persons have sought refuge in Mashegu, Kawo Mashegu, and Manigi, while others have moved in with relatives in distant communities.
Isah Ibrahim Bokuta, Press Secretary to the Chairman of Mashegu Local Government Area, confirmed the tragic incidents in an official statement.
"He described the deceased vigilantes as heroes who put themselves in harm's way to protect their communities," emphasizing that their sacrifices would not be forgotten.
The Niger State Police Command spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, stated that he would verify the reports and provide updates on the developing situation.
Broader Security Context
The attacks in Mashegu LGA occur against a backdrop of persistent security challenges in Niger State and across northwestern Nigeria.
In a related development, the abductors of former Chairman of Niger State Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Alhassan Bawa Niworo, have still not released him weeks after his family reportedly paid a seventy million naira ransom.
He was kidnapped alongside the Permanent Commissioner II of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission, Barrister Ahmad Mohammed, their drivers, and other travelers on September 29 along the Mokwa New Bussa road in Borgu LGA.
The security crisis has prompted strong statements from regional leaders, including Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, who recently declared that he has the capacity to end banditry within two months if given direct control over security agencies.
Governor Lawal claimed to know the precise locations of bandits terrorizing the region but cited specific obstacles preventing immediate action against them.
