At least 23 people have been killed by gunmen over the weekend in Katsina, Kaduna, Kwara, Plateau and Niger states.

Seven people were reportedly killed in Katsina State as bandits launched an attack on Magajin Wando village in Dandume Local Government Area.

The attack occurred between 11pm and midnight on Friday.

The Katsina State Government confirmed the incident on Saturday in a statement by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mu’azu.

According to the statement, many people would have been killed but for the intervention of security operatives who confronted the bandits.

“Thanks to the swift and courageous intervention of the Community Watch Corps, the attack was repelled, preventing what could have been a far more devastating outcome for the community.

“In the immediate aftermath, those who sustained injuries during the attack were evacuated. However, they were ambushed on their way to the hospital by the same group that had divided itself.

“In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, their vehicle was riddled with bullets. The Community Watch Corps fought bravely, escaped the ambush, and returned to safety, but the CWC vehicle was burnt during the ambush by the bandits,” the statement read partly.

The government stated that preliminary findings indicated that the ambush was carried out by the same group of criminals, who sought revenge for many of their members killed in the Magajin Wando community by the Community Watch Corps.

7 killed, 11 injured in Kaduna

In Kaduna State, at least seven people were also killed and 11 others injured when armed bandits attacked Wake community in Agunu Ward of Kachia Local Government Area.

The incident happened on Sunday, when a large number of armed men invaded the village, shooting sporadically and abducting an unspecified number of residents.

Those killed in the attack, according to the resident who spoke to our correspondent, include Elisha Paul, Japhet Bitrus, Obadiah Joshua, Luka Augustine, Ishaya Paul, Bawa Bulus and Ezekiel Augustine.

Among those injured are Gideon Pius, Zachariah Anthony and Moses Christopher, who are said to be responding to treatment at Alheri Clinic, Kachia.

Others – Nuhu Sunday, Christopher Ishaya Sunday, Elisha Ishaku, Clement Godday and Mrs. Janet Godday, were referred to Kaduna for advanced medical care.

A community source lamented the repeated attacks, saying: “The bandits killed seven of our people, injured many others and kidnapped several residents. We are living in fear every day.”

When contacted, the Kaduna Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, did not respond to calls from our reporter.

2 killed, 8 abducted in Kwara

In the same vein, two people were killed and eight others abducted when bandits invaded Shagbe community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State over the weekend.

The armed men, who stormed the town close to midnight, reportedly shot sporadically, sending residents scampering for safety before attacking the palace of the Onishagbe of Shagbe in an attempt to kidnap the traditional ruler.

Sources said the assailants met stiff resistance at the palace, leading to a heavy exchange of gunfire.

A Fulani vigilante was reportedly killed in the process, while the bandits abducted eight residents as they retreated from the town.

A community leader in Ifelodun, who preferred anonymity, disclosed that the attackers have contacted the community to demand a ransom of N200 million.

“They killed two people and injured two others. They are asking for N100 million for the kidnapped victims and another N100 million from the monarch not to return to the community.

But we are working closely with security agencies to fortify the town and palace,” he said.

Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, confirmed the incident in a telephone chat on Sunday night.

According to him, “Two people were killed and eight kidnapped. They also rustled an unspecified number of cattle. The bandits shot dead a herder in the forest on their way out after killing another person in the town.

“All the victims were Fulanis. No arrest has been made yet, but we have leads, and the investigation has been intensified.”

The latest incident comes shortly after security forces, in collaboration with the state government, launched an onslaught on suspected bandits in the area, neutralizing some of them and rescuing kidnap victims.

Meanwhile, 46 suspects riding motorcycles were intercepted and arrested over the weekend around the Babanla axis of Ifelodun Local Government.

Six miners killed in Plateau

No fewer than six miners were killed on Saturday night by gunmen in the Wang community of Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen stormed the mining site while the victims were engaged in mining activities.

Christopher Luka, youth leader of Bokkos LGA, confirmed the incident on Sunday.

Personnel of Agro Ranger, part of the security team maintaining peace in the region, confirmed to Daily Trust that six people were killed during the incident, noting that security agencies had recently issued a warning advising people to stop going to the mining site due to security threats in the area.

“We have issued a warning that they should put a stop to the mining activities, but they refused. I am sure the victims sneaked in the night when security had left the site. This is what has happened,” the personnel who pleaded not to be mentioned said.

Shanono Usman Adam and Maren Moses, who also confirmed the development, narrated that the deceased were busy at the mining site when gunmen opened fire on them.

According to Shanono, the deceased have been taken to the mortuary at Bokkos General Hospital.

Spokesperson of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP), Major Samson Zhakom, didn’t respond to calls and SMS by our correspondent at press time.

Daily Trust reports that communities in Bokkos, Plateau State, have been grappling with severe security threats, marked by recurrent attacks and killings.

Herder killed, farmers, travellers abducted in Niger

One herder has been reportedly killed while an unspecified number of farmers and travellers have been kidnapped in a series of attacks on communities in Mariga, Magama, Kontagora and Rijau local government areas of Niger State.

Locals told our correspondent that the attacks, which started on Monday, September 1, 2025, have continued daily as bandits in their numbers have continued to move from community to community, kidnapping residents and rustling cattle.

Among the communities raided between Monday, September 1, 2025, and Sunday, September 7, 2025, were Atabo, Zoma, Mailema, Dusai in Mariga, Kontagora and Magama LGAs.

Similarly, on Monday, September 1, 2025, farmers told Daily Trust that bandits invaded Dappo village in Tungan Wawa Ward, Kontagora LGA of the state, shot three people – Sani Ibrahim, Umar Umar and Khadijah Jatau on the thighs while attempting to escape, and kidnapped another woman, Yetti Dappo and a man, Jatau Dappo.

The injured victims were reportedly admitted to the Tungan Wawa Primary Healthcare Centre.

Mallam Abbas Yunusa, said during the attack on Atabo on Saturday, a herdsman was shot dead while resisting bandits from taking away his cattle.

Another attack was launched around 9pm on Thursday on Unguwan-Usubu, in Kawo Ward, Kontagora LGA.

Residents told Daily Trust that during the attack, the attackers abducted one Muhammadu Baban-Tambaya.

Sources said the renewed attacks have posed security threats to residents and necessitated immediate security deployment to the affected LGAs.

On Saturday, residents of Kontagora told Daily Trust that bandits invaded Melehe town in Kontagora LGA and kidnapped the principal of Junior Secondary School Melehe, and a Fulani woman identified as Amina Runtoje.

The attack reportedly occurred around 9pm. Sources said bandits disguised in hijabs and sat in front of the targeted residence, conversing like young women to avoid suspicion before launching the attack.

One of the sources said, “They sat there in hijabs for about two hours without anyone noticing they were bandits. We thought they were women. Around 10pm, they forced their way into the house, and abducted their victims.”

Also on Saturday morning, bandits invaded the Usubu neighbourhood in the Gamu-Gaku area of Kontagora and abducted two nursing mothers.

When contacted, Chief Press Secretary to the Niger State Governor, Bologi Ibrahim, said he was going to contact the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Homeland Security, to comment on the renewed attacks.

After waiting for several hours to revert, our correspondent called him again, but his calls went unanswered.

Also, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, did not respond to messages sent to his phone number after placing unsuccessful calls to his phone.

Recently, the state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, while appearing on an Arise TV programme, said there were no longer security challenges in the state.

He also said the Internally Displaced Persons camps are all empty due to improved security in the state. (Daily Trust)