Bandit attacks in Niger State have taken a frightening new turn, as armed men launched coordinated assaults that left 24 people abducted — including a pregnant woman — and a blind resident severely injured. The incidents, which occurred within the same local government area, have deepened anxiety among residents already grappling with rising insecurity.
The most recent attack happened on Wednesday in Palaita community, Erena LGA, where labourers were harvesting crops on a farmland. According to witnesses, the gunmen stormed the area, gathered the workers, and forcefully led them into the bush. Among those taken was a heavily pregnant woman, further heightening public distress.
In another disturbing incident nearby, the attackers reportedly injured a blind man after he was unable to comply with their demands. The brutality of the assault has left the community shaken, with residents describing the attacks as a dangerous escalation.
Locals say fear has now gripped several surrounding communities, as many worry that the assailants may strike again. They are urgently calling on the government and security agencies to strengthen intervention efforts and restore a sense of safety to the region.
Despite ongoing appeals, residents insist that the situation requires much faster and more decisive action, especially as these repeated incidents continue to disrupt lives and livelihoods across Niger State.