Armed bandits have attacked Kabe Community in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, killing a 75-year-old woman, community sources said on Tuesday night. The attack heightened fears among residents following repeated raids in the area.
Residents said the armed men arrived on motorcycles around 8:00 p.m., firing sporadically and forcing villagers to run for safety. The attackers looted shops and foodstuffs before leaving the area, a source said.
The deceased, Hajiya Amina Adamu, was reportedly shot and killed as she tried to hide during the raid. A resident said she was seen by the bandits along their exit route and was shot instantly. Her death was confirmed by locals who spoke with journalists.
Following the attack, many residents fled their homes, leaving villages in the area largely deserted. Witnesses said fear of further violence has prevented people from returning, and farming activities were disrupted as families sought safety elsewhere.
The bandit raid comes amid a broader pattern of insecurity in parts of North-Central Nigeria, where armed groups frequently target rural communities. Locals said repeated attacks have made daily life and economic activities, especially farming, increasingly difficult and dangerous.
The Niger State Government has recently ordered residents of communities around Kainji Lake to vacate their homes within two months to enable security operations to flush out criminal elements, a move aimed at restoring safety in the area. The directive followed previous deadly attacks in the region.
Security officials have not yet released a formal statement on this latest attack. Efforts to obtain details from the Niger State Police Command were ongoing at the time of reporting.
The incident underscores persistent insecurity challenges faced by rural communities in Niger State, as residents grapple with the human and economic costs of banditry.
