Niger: Bandits Set Niger Community Ablaze, Kill 5, Abduct Scores

Bandits Terrorising Niger East have set ablaze Bagna Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, killing five people and abducting scores of the villagers.

LEADERSHIP findings revealed that the Bandits invaded the village through all its entrances, taking everyone by surprise.

Sources from the village revealed that the bandits, numbering about 200, detonated some explosives in the community and, in the process, set the village ablaze and killed 5 of the villagers, including members of the vigilantes who came for rescue.

It was also learnt that the attack made the villagers flee for safety, but in the process of fleeing the village, the bandits ambushed some of them, mostly women and abducted scores

A member of the village who fled to Kuta and preferred anonymity told LEADERSHIP that “they came on motorcycles, about 200 of them, they started burning houses using explosives. Immediately they arrived in the village, the entire village was engulfed with smoke, the barns where we store our food items like tubers of yams and grains were also set ablaze in the process”

The Villager disclosed that some of the  vigilantes  and members of the security team in a neighbouring village who came for rescue  were injured, and they could  not rescue those abducted, saying “some of the vigilantes tried to confront them, but the bandits were more in number and apparently overpowered them”

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Niger state command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed that “On 7th April 2026 at about 6.30 am, information received indicated that some armed bandits invaded Bagna village and later moved to Erena village, but joint security in the area mobilised and engaged the bandits, which pushed the hoodlums out of the area”

“Unfortunately, two vigilante members and a driver from the joint security team lost their lives during the attack, while some others were injured. Meanwhile, the area is relatively calm whilst monitoring continues,” he added.