Residents Flee as Bandits Attack Niger and Kwara Communities
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| Residents Flee as Bandits Attack Niger and Kwara Communities |
Residents in Niger and Kwara states flee homes after bandit attacks, leaving farms deserted. Authorities promise stronger security measures against banditry.
Rising Insecurity in Niger and Kwara States
Residents of several communities in Niger State and Kwara State have fled their homes following fresh bandit attacks. In Mariga Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger, bandits invaded communities on Monday, operating from morning until late afternoon.
Witnesses confirmed that the attackers rustled cattle, abducted children who were fishing by a river, and killed a farmer near Dusai village. Families fled on foot to nearby Gulbin-Boka, with many recounting harrowing escapes.
Victims Share Heartbreaking Experiences
Survivors described the trauma of trekking long distances without food or water.
- Ibrahim Ayuba Ragada, who fled with his pregnant wife, said: “We trekked about 20 km to Gulbin-Boka. They rustled cattle and even took children.”
- Larai, a mother of six, carried her children across a river with limited canoes available. She added, “We have no food or shelter. A Samaritan gave us N800 to buy gari and kuli-kuli.”
- Other villagers confirmed that entire communities, including Ragada and Dusai, were deserted after the coordinated attacks.
This mass displacement reflects the worsening humanitarian crisis in Niger State caused by banditry in northern Nigeria.
Kwara State Communities Deserted After Attacks
In Patigi LGA of Kwara State, residents of Ndanaku and nearby villages also abandoned their homes. Reports indicate that nearly 1,000 people have fled following persistent attacks.
A viral video showed empty churches and schools, with locals confirming that bandits and kidnappers demanded millions in ransom. Farmers now fear returning to their fields, leaving produce unharvested.
Villages affected in Kwara include:
- Mari
- Dina
- Kakafu
- Lile
- Edogi
- Chapa
- Yekosa
- Gadaworo
- Lalagi
- Kanworo
The abandoned communities highlight the depth of insecurity across Kwara’s border towns with Kogi State, where criminal gangs operate from forest hideouts.
Farmers Abandon Agriculture Due to Banditry
Residents revealed that farming has become impossible due to constant threats. Crops ready for harvest remain on farmlands, worsening food insecurity in the region.
James Ibrahim, a resident of Ndanaku, said:
“Farmers can no longer go to their farms. Seven villages are under siege, with people kidnapped and ransom demands running into millions.”
Such displacement threatens both livelihoods and food supply chains, deepening the socio-economic crisis caused by insecurity in rural Nigeria.
Government and Security Agencies Respond
Confirming the Niger State attack, Commissioner for Homeland Security, Brigadier General Bello Abdullahi Mohammed (rtd), assured that security operatives were working to restore calm.
In Kwara, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq met stakeholders, promising collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the military to eliminate threats in Ifelodun, Patigi, and Edu LGAs.
“Everything is being done to make our communities safer. We must strike a balance in how we project these issues to the outside world,” the governor stated.
Meanwhile, security sources confirmed that dozens of criminals were killed in Ifelodun LGA during a coordinated military operation involving ground forces and air support.
For more on security challenges in Nigeria, visit the BBC Africa Security News.
Conclusion
The latest attacks in Niger and Kwara underline the urgent need for sustained security interventions against banditry in Nigeria. With thousands displaced, farmlands abandoned, and lives lost, residents are calling for stronger government action and permanent security deployments in vulnerable communities.
Until decisive measures are taken, the cycle of displacement, hunger, and fear will continue to disrupt rural life in northern and central Nigeria.
