Fresh violence has again hit Niger State as armed bandits reportedly invaded Baga community in Shiroro Local Government Area, killing at least five villagers, abducting many others, and setting houses on fire in a coordinated assault.
According to reports from the community, the attackers stormed the area heavily armed and allegedly used explosives during the invasion, leaving residents in panic and forcing many to flee into surrounding bushes for safety. Sadly, some of those trying to escape were reportedly shot during the chaos.
Eyewitness accounts suggest the assault was not a random attack but a well-organised raid. The gunmen were said to be many in number and are believed to have entered the community through neighbouring areas linked to Kaduna State. Beyond the killings, the scale of the abductions has left the community deeply shaken, with reports claiming that up to 150 villagers may have been taken away.
Local vigilante members reportedly attempted to resist the attackers, but several of them were overpowered and injured in the process. Some of the wounded were later rushed to hospital for treatment.
Residents also reported seeing thick smoke rising from different parts of the affected area, a sign that several homes and nearby villages may have been set ablaze during the operation. The destruction has further worsened fears in a region already struggling with repeated insecurity.
Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Shiroro Local Government, Mr. Ishyaku Bawa, acknowledged that bandits attacked the community, killed some residents, and injured others. He said he was at the hospital attending to victims and could not immediately provide full details.
Security personnel have reportedly been deployed to the area in response, with efforts said to be ongoing to restore calm and rescue those abducted.
The latest attack is another painful reminder of the growing insecurity facing rural communities, where residents continue to live under constant fear of deadly raids and mass abductions.