Niger: Terrorists Fleeing Ongoing Military Operations Behind Bridge Bombing

Niger State government has attributed the bombing of the bridge in Lumma community in Borgu local government area to terrorists scared by the ongoing ‘Operation Savannah Shield’ launched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The commissioner of Homeland Security, Hon. Maurice told LEADERSHIP that the Ministry had received the report of what happened and had directed that vulnerable people in the area be relocated.

He said, “Based on the report we received from experts in the field, suspected terrorists were responsible, trying to scare the people, and scared of the ongoing ‘Operation Savannah Shield’. We are in touch with the local government chairman and the community leaders, so the situation is under control.”

According to him, the Niger State government is working with security experts to mitigate any danger posed by the bombing of the bridge to the people and the area’s security.

He maintained that the government would continue to be supportive of security operatives and the military to ensure that the area was rid of terrorists and their activities.

While urging public understanding, he said that, according to the records so far, the government had yet to receive a report of any loss of life.

Police Confirm Bombing Of Link Bridge

Meanwhile, the police have confirmed that heavily armed men suspected to be bandits have bombed a bridge connecting  Luma-Babanna in Borgu local government area and Agwara in Agwara local government area of Niger State to frustrate the movement of military and other security operations at the Kainji Lake National Park Forest.

LEADERSHIP gathered that since last week, joint security mobilisations have been ongoing in the area, with military hardwares being mobilised to the forest through Wawa – Lumma – Kofanti to dislodge the bandits who are using the forest as their base.

It was learnt that sensing the implications, the bandits, who now have many camps in the forest, decided to bomb the only bridge linking the area to frustrate the mobilisation and slow down military operations.

LEADERSHIP’s  findings revealed that the bandits carried out the bombing at about early Monday at about 2pm, thereby barring the people from Wawa-Luma town from getting access to the Agwara axis and the stretch of the forest to Babbanna, where the bandits recently attacked some border communities.

 Roadside bombs kill 8 passengers

It was further gathered that between Nuku and Woro communities, a vehicle with passengers going to Kofanti Market yesterday stepped on explosives planted by the bandits, and all the eight occupants of the vehicle were killed.

Local sources stated that people were living in fear because of the bandits’ new strategy of planting explosives along the path to the forest.

LEADERSHIP had reported that the bandits operating from the forest had written to the people of Papiri to pay N150 million to stop an imminent deadly attack, and barely 48 hours after their threat, they bombed the bridge linking the area and planted explosives to stop military intervention.

The Niger State  Police Public Relations Officer,  Wasiu Abiodun,  confirmed  that “on 23rd March 2026 at about 6.3am, a report received revealed that on the same date at about 2 am, suspected terrorists within the park forest used an explosive device and bombed a bridge located along Luma road, Borgu LGA connecting Luma-Babana-Agwara communities”

“It was discovered that the bridge was damaged by the hoodlums during security operations in the area. However, monitoring continues while clearance operation is intensified,” he added..

Schools, Worship Centres, Farmlands Deserted Over Fresh Militia Threats told

The prevailing insecurity in Chanchanji, Tordamisa and other communities in Takum and Donga Local Government Areas of Taraba State has forced hundreds of residents to flee their ancestral homes, thereby grounding academic, social and economic activities across the affected localities.

Findings by LEADERSHIP revealed that both public and private schools which are currently in session, as well as worship places in the troubled communities have been shut down due to the escalating fear and tension over a viral video that alleged a planned terrorist attack immediately after Ramadan.

Also, farmers, who have begun clearing their lands ahead of the wet farming season, have also abandoned their communities. Other residents have also deserted their communities for fear of being caught up in the violence or becoming victims.

With the rising insecurity, many displaced persons are now taking refuge in schools located in relatively safer areas, further disrupting the academic activities of those schools.

Our correspondent gathered that the recent growing panic was triggered by a viral video alleging that suspected armed Fulani militia were specifically mobilising to launch coordinated attacks in Takum and Donga local government areas in Taraba State.

LEADERSHIP further reports that their fears are compounded by recent incidents of violence in the area, which security operatives reportedly intervened to contain.

Speaking on the situation, the administrator of Holy Cross Schools in Takum, Rev. Fr. Samuel Ogah, said academic activities had been seriously disrupted by the influx of displaced persons seeking shelter on the school’s premises.

Similarly, the principal of Regina Pacis School in Chanchanji, Mr Simon Avioko, lamented that many parents had withdrawn their children from the school following the destruction of their homes and livelihoods.

At Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Chanchanji, the Dean of Chanchanji Deanery, Rev. Fr. Edward Barau, said residents were living in constant fear following reports of an impending attack.

“Most people have already fled, but not everyone has the means to leave. Many of those you see here are from neighbouring communities that have been destroyed, with lives lost and properties razed,” he said.

He added that, although a recent attack on the community was repelled by the military, tension remains very high.

“As we speak, the presence of soldiers is the only deterrent,” he noted.

In Tor Damisa, Donga local government area where about three policemen and several others were killed in an attack last week, Rev. Fr. Mathias Akough confirmed that credible intelligence had prompted the mass displacement of people.

He made a reference to a video released by the executive director of Equipping the Persecuted, Judd Saul, which detailed alleged plans by armed groups to attack parts of Southern Taraba and Southern Kaduna after Ramadan.

Rev. Fr. Akough called on security agencies to intensify intelligence gathering and redeploy personnel to avert further attacks, and stressed that the perpetrators could be tracked and brought to justice.

He also urged the state government to take more decisive actions to restore peace, and commended Governor Agbu Kefas for his recent visit to the affected communities alongside the Benue State governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia.

Meanwhile, health facilities are struggling to cope with the influx of casualties, who sustained bullet wounds from the attacks.

At Sancta Maria Clinic and Maternity in Takum, Rev. Sister. Filipa Fangpa said the facility is overwhelmed, with injured persons continuing to arrive daily.

She appealed to the government, organisations, and individuals for support to enable the clinic cater to the needs of victims and as well extend its outreach to displaced persons.

At the time of filing this report, the evacuation of residents was still ongoing amid heightened tension in the two localities.

However, the Taraba State Police Command has urged residents to remain calm and assured them that proactive measures had been put in place to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Victor Mshelia, the Command said it was aware of the viral video and had taken steps in collaboration with other security agencies to address the situation.

“There is no cause for panic. Necessary operational and intelligence-driven measures have been deployed to safeguard lives and property,” the statement read.

The Command further advised residents to remain vigilant, report suspicious activities, and avoid spreading unverified information that could incite fear.

The police also reiterated its commitment, alongside other security agencies, to ensure peace and security across the state.

Kwara: 6-month-old baby survives as bandits’ IED kills driver, injures woman

Meanwhile, a six-month-old baby survived on Monday after an improvised explosive device (IED) allegedly planted by bandits exploded along a road in Woro community, Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The explosion claimed the life of a commercial driver and left a woman critically injured.

The development has further heightened fears over insecurity in the area.

Efforts to get official confirmation from the police were unsuccessful as of press time, as the spokesperson of the state command could not be reached.

A resident, Dr Abdul Woro, said the blast occurred about one kilometre from the community.

He described the incident as shocking.

“They planted the explosive on the road. As soon as the vehicle passed, it went off. The driver died instantly, and the woman was badly injured,” he said.

Confirming the incident, the chairman of Kaiama Local Government, Hon. Abubakar Abdullahi, said the explosion occurred shortly after 7am.

“The vehicle was carrying just two passengers, the driver and a woman with her six-month-old baby boy. Unfortunately, the driver died on the spot due to the impact of the explosion.

“The woman sustained serious injuries, including a deep head wound and fractures.

“She was given first aid immediately, and we have directed that she be moved to Ilorin for proper medical attention at the instruction of the governor, ” he said.

Abdullahi linked the attack to recent crackdowns on bandits’ logistics network in the area.

“This is clearly a reaction. We recently arrested one of their major motorcycle suppliers and their members. They had supplied about 50 motorcycles to these criminals. But we intercepted three of their riders who came to collect the four motorcycles that were remaining, which disrupted their operations, and they are not happy about it.

“We are ahead of them now, and this is their way of trying to retaliate and instill fear in the community,” he said.

The chairman also disclosed that more explosives were planted at the scene but were successfully neutralised.

“They actually planted two IEDs. One exploded, but the other was discovered by the police bomb disposal team and safely detonated. That action prevented what could have been a bigger tragedy,” he explained.

Providing an update on the situation, he said, “The area has been secured, and the police have completed their operation there. Calm has returned, but we remain vigilant.”

He, however, raised concerns over internal sabotage, blaming informants for aiding the attackers.

“These criminals cannot succeed without local collaborators. Informants are part of the problem, and we must address that. We are calling on residents to support security agencies with credible information,” he said.

The latest incident comes months after about 150 residents were reportedly killed, with several homes razed, during coordinated attacks on  Woro community.

Following the earlier assault, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the deployment of military personnel to the troubled axis to restore calm.

In a further response to the deteriorating security situation, the military last month launched “Operation Savannah Shield” in the area to tackle the menace, amid reports of mass displacement of residents and farmers.

“We are not relenting. With the support of the military and other security agencies, we will continue to pursue those behind these attacks until the area is completely safe,” Abdullahi added.