Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Gebbe, Kebbi State, Nigeria — Panic and fear engulfed the Gebbe community in Shanga Local Government Area on Monday, December 29, 2025, after gunmen launched a sudden and deadly attack, forcing residents to flee their homes in search of safety. The assault, marked by indiscriminate shooting and chaos, represents one of the most violent incidents in the area in recent memory and has left villagers traumatized and displaced.
According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers struck without warning, firing sporadically as they swept through the village. Caught off guard, families abandoned homes and property, fleeing to neighbouring communities and into nearby bushes to escape the gunfire. Many residents described the atmosphere as “terrifying” and “unprecedented,” noting that Gebbe had been largely peaceful until this attack.
Local sources reported that several villagers were killed and many more injured, though the exact number of casualties remains unclear due to the scale of the displacement and the fact that many residents scattered in the chaos. The attack’s ferocity and suddenness made it difficult for immediate assessment teams to conduct a full tally of casualties, and officials stressed that figures are provisional.
The Kebbi State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, confirmed the assault and said that security operatives had been dispatched to the scene to restore order and investigate the incident. Officers are working to determine the full extent of casualties and injuries, and an official statement detailing the confirmed numbers is expected as the situation becomes clearer.
“The attack occurred, and we are on top of the situation,” Usman told reporters, emphasising that officers were on the ground assessing conditions. He added that security personnel were undertaking efforts to stabilise the affected communities and prevent further breaches.
In addition to Gebbe, nearby villages including Kaiwa and Gelawu were also reportedly affected by coordinated gunman assaults, with preliminary reports indicating that at least eight persons were killed across these neighbouring communities. Seven victims died during the attacks, and another succumbed later to injuries sustained during the violence, according to the police command.
As gunfire echoed through the rural settlements, terrified residents sought refuge in forests and surrounding hamlets. Many expressed shock at the scale of violence, noting that such attacks are rare in their localities. “People are afraid to return home,” one resident told reporters, reflecting the widespread fear gripping the area.
The deployment of security forces has been accompanied by calls from community members for urgent government intervention to bolster protection and prevent future attacks. Residents appealed for increased patrols, better intelligence sharing and support for displaced families, emphasising the urgent need for stability in the face of escalating gunmen incursions.
Responding to mounting security concerns, state officials and law enforcement authorities have reiterated their commitment to safeguarding citizens in vulnerable regions. Tactical units have been mobilised to conduct search operations, while intensified patrols across Shanga Local Government and neighbouring areas aim to deter further threats and support survivors in returning safely to their homes.
Civil society groups and local leaders have condemned the violence, describing the attack as “senseless” and a disruption to the peace that communities have long maintained. Many families are now displaced, unsure of when they can safely return, and have called on humanitarian organisations to provide immediate assistance, including food, shelter, and medical care for the injured.
Analysts note that armed attacks such as this reflect a broader security challenge in north-west Nigeria, where banditry and gunmen raids have targeted villages, schools and farmland communities in recent years. Although the scale and brutality of the Gebbe assault have alarmed many, there are established patterns of violence linked to criminal networks that exploit weak security infrastructure and remote terrain.
In other parts of Kebbi State, incidents earlier in the year highlighted the ongoing threat posed by gunmen. In November 2025, a band of armed assailants stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, killing the vice principal and abducting at least 25 schoolgirls, an episode that drew national attention and intensified scrutiny of security protocols in rural areas.
While that earlier incident underscored vulnerabilities in educational environments, the Gebbe attack has brought fresh focus to the broader insecurity facing ordinary residents in otherwise peaceful communities. Critics argue that despite government assurances, more comprehensive strategies — including enhanced community policing, intelligence networks, and socioeconomic investment — are needed to address the root causes of violence and prevent recurrent attacks.
The aftermath of the attack has left Gebbe and surrounding villages in a state of disruption, with trails of discarded belongings marking the flight of families who fled under fire. Many residents have expressed deep psychological trauma as they recount the suddenness of the assault and the loss of neighbours and loved ones. Calls for trauma counselling and mental health support are emerging as essential components of the response.
As authorities continue their investigations and security operations, affected communities remain on high alert. Police have pledged to pursue assailants and ensure justice for victims, though the immediate priority for residents is safety and the restoration of normal life. Meanwhile, appeals for government intervention reflect a shared urgency to quell further violence and support recovery for those displaced by this latest wave of gunmen attacks in Kebbi State.
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