Residents Run For Their Lives As Bandits Rain Bullets, Kill Over 30 Security Agents

Tragedy befell the Dogon-Dawa community in Niger State’s Mariga local government area as suspected bandits allegedly killed at least thirty members of a local security outfit known as Yan Sa Kai.

The attack occurred as the vigilantes were tracking the suspected bandits to their hideout upon learning of their presence in the area. However, they fell into an ambush set by the bandits, resulting in a significant number of casualties.

While some of the assailants were reportedly neutralized during the encounter, the exact count remains undetermined.

According to a reliable source from the area, “Some of our local vigilantes were killed. From what we have calculated and seen, they are up to thirty. Some of the bandits were also gunned down by our men, and many others escaped with bullet wounds, but we cannot say specifically the numbers.”

The incident, which took place on Saturday morning, has instilled fear among the predominantly farming community, prompting some residents to flee to avoid potential reprisals.

Confirming the tragic event, Mariga local government council Chairman, Abbas Kasuwar Garba, expressed grave concern, particularly as the farming community was gearing up for the planting season. He urged swift government intervention to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Efforts to obtain a response from the Niger State government and the police command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.