SUSPECTED BANDITS RAZE NIGER COMMUNITIES IN MASS RAID

Residents of Rijau and Mariga LGAs in Niger State are reeling from a violent raid by a large bandit group, which reportedly deployed over 200 motorcycles in an hours-long cattle theft and shooting spree across several villages.
Eye-witnesses described a terrifying scene of gunmen firing indiscriminately and driving villagers to flee for cover. The attackers, allegedly from neighbouring Zamfara State, were armed with military-grade rifles and came in overwhelming numbers, leaving only local vigilantes to mount a weak defence.
Niger State Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the attack and said security forces, including the military, are currently monitoring the situation and strategizing a coordinated response. Panic has spread through affected communities, with many residents fleeing towards nearby towns.
Authorities are now calling for urgent reinforcements and sustained patrols to prevent further raids—a stark reminder of the ongoing challenge of banditry in the region and the need for more robust federal security coordination.