Armed bandits struck multiple communities in Magama Local Government Area of Niger State on Wednesday morning, abducting several passengers and villagers, setting a vehicle ablaze, and rustling cattle in a brazen wave of attacks that left one person injured.
The assaults, which targeted travelers and rural residents along the Kontagora–Yauri road, have heightened fears in a region already reeling from rampant banditry.
The violence began when a commercial Toyota Corolla carrying six passengers from Kontagora to Yauri, Kebbi State, was ambushed at Anaba village.
The assailants, wielding sophisticated weapons, kidnapped all occupants of the vehicle before advancing to raid Libale, Iteri, and Isana villages.
POWER OF FAVOUR? (Silent, Powerful, Spiritual) Don’t miss out on your desires. You are not the only one pursuing them. Command power of favour to achieve your heart desires: In your undertakings. Work. Job. Career. Profession. Business. Politics. Workplace. Powerful position. Patronage. Selling. Contract. People/ crowd. Global fame. Love matters. Etc.
SPIRITUAL CONSULTATION ON: Spiritual power of favour over efforts alone for desired outcome. Overcome delay with power of favour. Overcome rejection with power of favour. Other matters.
For Spiritual Consultation, Guidance, Contact: DR. J.A FAROS: Call/ Whatsapp + 2 3 4 0 7 0 3 0 5 1 4 0 6 3
Sango-ota. Lagos. Nigeria. Distance no barrier( 3 options) By Unlimiting Power of God, Every Dream materialized.
In these communities, they abducted two residents, identified as Oro and Jamilu, and stole an unconfirmed number of cattle. In a show of destruction, the bandits set a vehicle on fire, leaving one villager with gunshot wounds.
Local sources described the attacks as swift and coordinated, catching residents off-guard. “They came in large numbers, shooting sporadically. People ran into the bush, but some couldn’t escape,” a witness from Libale told reporters.
The injured victim is reportedly receiving treatment at a nearby health facility.A combined team of Nigerian troops and local vigilantes has been deployed to the area, launching a manhunt to track the bandits and rescue the abducted victims.
“Our forces are combing the forests and working with intelligence to ensure the safe return of those taken,” a military source confirmed, though no arrests or rescues had been reported as of Thursday evening.
The attacks add to the growing tally of banditry incidents in Niger State, where over 2,000 people have been kidnapped in 2025 alone, according to local security data.
The Kontagora–Yauri axis, a vital trade route, has become a hotspot for such assaults, disrupting travel and livelihoods. Wednesday’s abductions follow a similar raid last month in nearby Rafi LGA, where 15 villagers were taken, with only half released after hefty ransoms.
Community leaders have renewed calls for increased military presence and better-equipped vigilante groups to curb the menace. “We can’t sleep at night; our roads are death traps,” said Musa Garba, a community head in Magama.
The incident has also reignited criticism of federal and state authorities for failing to stem the tide of insecurity, with residents urging swift action to prevent further loss of life and property.