A series of coordinated bandit attacks across Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State has left 16 vigilante members dead and at least 42 residents kidnapped, prompting widespread displacement as villagers flee to safer communities.
Residents told Daily Trust that the assaults occurred between Sunday, November 9, and Thursday, November 13, 2025, with armed groups targeting multiple villages in rapid succession. Many communities have since been abandoned as families seek refuge in Mashegu town, Kawo-Mashegu, Manigi, and more distant settlements.
The violence began on Sunday when bandits stormed Dutsen Magaji village, abducting 22 residents. Vigilante members engaged the attackers in an attempt to rescue the victims, resulting in the deaths of three vigilantes and injuries to at least five others.
According to a resident who requested anonymity for safety reasons, the assailants returned just four days later. At dawn on Thursday, November 13, the gunmen attacked Magama village, surrounding a mosque during early morning prayers and kidnapping over 20 worshippers.
“When vigilantes pursued them, they didn’t know the bandits had prepared an ambush,” the resident explained. “The attackers opened fire, killing 13 vigilantes on the spot and leaving several others wounded.”
The Press Secretary to the Chairman of Mashegu LGA, Isah Ibrahim Bokuta, confirmed the casualties, describing the slain vigilantes as “heroes” who died defending their communities. He praised their courage and reaffirmed the local government’s support for volunteer security groups who continue to confront banditry despite limited resources.
Local sources reported that villages such as Dutsen Magaji, Borin-Aiki, Gidan Ruwa, and Magama have been largely deserted since Monday, with many displaced residents relying on relatives in safer areas for temporary shelter.
The latest attacks highlight the worsening insecurity in parts of Niger State, where rural communities continue to face recurrent raids, kidnappings, and violent confrontations with heavily armed bandit groups. Authorities have not yet announced any arrests or rescue operations related to the latest incidents.
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Source:Africa Publicity
