MINNA, Niger State — Suspected bandits have killed three people and burnt several houses in Pissa village, Niger State, the state Police Command has confirmed, in the latest wave of attacks affecting communities in the North-Central region.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday when a large group of armed assailants stormed the village, shooting sporadically and setting residential buildings ablaze. Sources told journalists that the attack lasted for several hours, during which residents fled into nearby bushes for safety, many sustaining injuries while escaping the onslaught.
Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attack and the death of three persons in a statement issued on Sunday. He said security forces have been deployed to the area to restore normalcy and prevent further attacks. According to the police spokesperson, efforts are currently underway to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Abiodun also revealed that a joint task force comprising the police, military, and local vigilantes has been dispatched to pursue the fleeing bandits. He appealed to residents to remain calm and provide law enforcement agencies with useful information that could aid the investigation and arrest of those responsible for the attack.
Witnesses who survived the raid narrated that the bandits arrived on motorcycles, heavily armed with AK-47 rifles and petrol bombs. They reportedly moved from house to house, looting property before setting the structures on fire. One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said the attackers appeared to have targeted specific households believed to have previously provided intelligence to security forces.
The attack on Pissa village follows recent incidents of banditry and kidnapping in various local government areas across Niger State, which shares a long border with the vast Rugu Forest—a known hideout for criminal gangs operating across several states. Despite sustained military operations in the region, bandits have continued to launch deadly raids on vulnerable communities.
Local government officials have expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in rural areas, calling on the federal and state governments to deploy more resources to protect farming communities. Many residents of Pissa village have reportedly abandoned their homes and are now staying with relatives in neighbouring towns, fearing a possible return of the attackers.
Human rights activists have condemned the attack and urged the authorities to do more to protect civilians in bandit-prone areas. They noted that the frequency of such attacks has disrupted agricultural activities, displaced families, and caused untold psychological trauma among rural populations who already live in poverty.
The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has yet to issue an official statement on the attack. However, a government source revealed that security chiefs have been directed to submit a comprehensive report on the incident and propose strategies to prevent future occurrences.
As search operations continue for the fleeing bandits, residents of Pissa and surrounding villages remain on high alert, with many sleeping in the open to avoid being caught off guard by another attack. For now, the community grieves its dead while demanding that the government take urgent and decisive action to end the reign of terror in the region.
