(DDM) – Armed bandits have launched another wave of violent attacks across multiple communities in Niger State, abducting at least twenty-four residents in a coordinated overnight assault that has heightened anxiety in the troubled region.
The incident, Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered, occurred within the same local government area, where attackers invaded homes, kidnapped villagers, and inflicted gruesome injuries on a blind resident whose body was reportedly mutilated during the raid.
The latest onslaught underscores the worsening security situation in Niger State, a region that has endured repeated bandit incursions over the past decade.
Security analysts say the renewed attacks reflect the increasing boldness of armed groups who have expanded their operations despite repeated military offensives.
Witnesses from the affected communities said the bandits arrived in large numbers, heavily armed, and operated for hours without resistance.
Among the kidnapped victims is a pregnant woman, whose abduction has intensified public outrage and deepened community fears about the fate of those taken.
Families of the abducted residents have described the attacks as one of the most traumatic episodes to hit the area this year.
One villager reported that the blind resident who was mutilated had been unable to flee, making him a vulnerable target during the raid.
His condition has drawn condemnation from human rights observers who describe the attack as a “barbaric violation of civilian protection norms.”
Niger State has been one of the hardest-hit areas in the north-central zone, suffering persistent kidnappings, school abductions, and community-level assaults.
Many of the bandit groups operating in the state maintain camps within forests spanning Niger, Kaduna, and Zamfara, where they evade security operations.
Despite repeated military airstrikes and ground interventions, the rural terrain and limited security personnel have left several villages exposed.
Residents say they continue to live in fear, with many abandoning farms, markets, and schools to avoid further attacks.
This trend has contributed to rising food insecurity, as displaced farmers struggle to return to their farmlands due to the threat of violence.
Local leaders have repeatedly appealed for more robust federal intervention, arguing that the state’s resources cannot match the scale of the crisis.
Security experts warn that failure to curb these attacks may embolden the armed groups and deepen instability across the north-central region.
Authorities have yet to release an official casualty figure, but early reports confirm that the number of abducted residents stands at twenty-four, with fears that the tally may increase as families account for missing relatives.
The fresh assault has sparked renewed calls for improved intelligence gathering, community policing, and sustained military presence in vulnerable zones.
For now, traumatised families await updates on the fate of their loved ones, while neighbouring communities brace for possible further attacks in what has become a disturbing cycle of violence across Niger State.