Residents of Fanga community in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State have been thrown into grief and fear after armed bandits launched a fresh attack, killing one person, injuring several others, and abducting four victims despite previously collecting ₦11 million from the community as levies.
According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers stormed the town in broad daylight, shooting sporadically and forcing residents to flee for safety.
During the invasion, the gunmen looted shops, carted away valuables, and opened fire on unarmed villagers.
An elderly man was confirmed dead in the attack, while several residents, including a minor, sustained gunshot injuries.
Two young men were reported to be in critical condition after being ambushed while attempting to pursue the attackers.
A resident who spoke in an interview revealed that the attackers had strategically positioned another group of armed men outside the community to ambush anyone trying to resist them.
“They came shooting and people ran for their lives. When some youths tried to chase them, they were ambushed by another group waiting outside. They had no weapons to defend themselves,” the witness said.
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The attackers also abducted four individuals, including two visitors and two residents of the community.
Residents disclosed that this is the third time Fanga has come under such attacks.
Despite paying ₦2 million during a previous invasion and ₦9 million the following year as demanded by the bandits, the community continues to suffer repeated assaults.
“We paid everything they asked, but there is still no peace,” the source lamented.
Locals further decried the absence of security personnel before, during, and after the attack, accusing authorities of neglect despite multiple reports and appeals for intervention.
According to the residents, the attackers operate from nearby settlements and have established hideouts around the area, making it easier for them to carry out repeated assaults.
They are now calling on the government to deploy permanent security forces to the region rather than temporary responses after attacks occur.
“Our appeal is simple: we need constant security presence here. The entire district is no longer safe, and people cannot sleep peacefully at night,” the resident added.
The incident highlights the growing insecurity in rural communities, where residents are increasingly forced to pay levies to armed groups yet remain vulnerable to violent attacks.
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