Deadly insecurity has once again gripped communities in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, following back-to-back attacks by armed bandits that left at least six people dead and a police station completely destroyed.
The assailants first targeted the village of Tungan-Makeri on Friday evening. According to local residents who spoke to reporters, the attack began around 8:00 p.m. when a massive gang of over 200 armed men on motorcycles invaded the community. The bandits fired sporadic gunshots into the air and set multiple residential houses ablaze, creating a state of panic and chaos.
A resident from a neighboring village, Zagatina, described witnessing the massive convoy heading toward Tungan-Makeri. "They passed through my village and I counted about 41 motorcycles, with two or three persons on each, including women and children on some. I quickly hid myself in the bush when I noticed them coming because they passed through the back of my house," the eyewitness recounted.
The hours-long operation in Tungan-Makeri resulted in the tragic death of six villagers and displaced numerous families who fled into the surrounding bushes for safety.
In a shocking display of escalating bravado, the same group of bandits is alleged to have struck again days later. On Wednesday morning, they reportedly moved into the nearby district of Konkoso, one of the major towns in the Borgu LGA. During this incursion, the criminals specifically targeted a police station, setting the entire structure ablaze.
Residents expressed deep frustration over the lack of security presence during the Konkoso attack. The destruction of the station has heightened fears that the area is becoming a safe haven for criminal activity. It was only after the initial Friday attack that residents reported sighting an Air Force aircraft circling Tungan-Makeri, a move they believe forced the bandits to temporarily withdraw.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain official confirmation from the Niger State Police Command were unsuccessful. However, the silence from official channels has done little to calm the terrified population.
These incidents have reignited urgent calls for reinforced security measures in Borgu LGA. Community leaders are pleading with the federal and state governments to deploy more ground troops to prevent the bandits from overrunning more villages and to restore confidence among the traumatized residents. Dailypost
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