At least 13 people, including security personnel, have reportedly been killed, and several others injured following a deadly attack by suspected bandits on three communities in the Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.
The coordinated assault occurred on Tuesday at about 4 p.m., when a large group of armed men stormed the affected villages—Kumbashi, Bangi, and Mongoro.
Eyewitnesses revealed that the assailants, numbering in the hundreds, arrived on approximately 100 motorcycles, with each bike carrying three armed riders.
According to local sources, the attackers are suspected to have come from neighboring Zamfara State, a region long plagued by similar armed groups. The raid appeared to be meticulously planned and executed, leaving devastation in its wake.
Among the casualties were a mobile police officer and two local vigilantes who were stationed in the area to bolster security. Several residents also sustained injuries in the assault, though the exact number remains unconfirmed.
One eyewitness, speaking to journalists in Minna, disclosed that the attackers not only opened fire indiscriminately but also targeted infrastructure, destroying a major communication mast.
The destruction of the mast significantly hampered communication in the affected communities, further heightening the fear and chaos.
The attack is believed to be a reprisal strike in response to a recent offensive by the Nigerian Air Force on suspected bandit hideouts in the region. This theory is supported by the deliberate and aggressive nature of the attack.
The Chairman of Mariga Local Government, Abbas Garba, confirmed the incident in a phone interview but noted that an accurate casualty figure could not yet be ascertained. He expressed concern over the heightened tension in the area due to the lingering presence of the armed men.
As of the time this report was filed, the Niger State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident. The silence from security authorities has left many residents anxious, as they await further updates and intervention from the state and federal governments.