Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
BIRNIN KEKKI, NIGERIA — A wave of violence has struck parts of Kebbi State, as suspected bandits launched deadly attacks on rural communities in the Shanga Local Government Area, killing at least seven people and forcing residents to flee their homes in fear. The shootings and raids, reported on the evening of January 1, 2026, have underscored growing insecurity in the North‑West region of the country and signal that armed criminal groups are expanding their reach beyond long‑established conflict zones.
Eyewitnesses describe a night of terror as assailants armed with guns moved from village to village, beginning with Tungan Giwa, where at least two residents were killed after the attackers stormed homes and fired indiscriminately. In Kaiwa, the bandits continued their lethal campaign, killing five people and setting ablaze the residence of the village head — an act that sent shockwaves through the local population. In nearby Gebbe and Gurwo towns, further killings were reported as residents scrambled to escape the violence.
The coordinated nature of the attacks has left many in the affected area deeply unsettled. Families abandoned their farms, livestock and personal belongings as they sought safety in Shanga town and other nearby settlements. One resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said villagers were overwhelmed by fear, emphasising that the violence disrupted the daily life and livelihood of entire communities who had until now perceived themselves as relatively insulated from large‑scale banditry.
In recent years, Kebbi has experienced periodic outbreaks of bandit violence, including kidnappings, raids on schools, and fatal ambushes of security personnel and civilians alike. Last year, gunmen attacked a girls’ secondary school in Maga, abducting dozens of students and killing a vice‑principal, a crime that drew national and international condemnation and prompted the Nigerian Senate to demand a thorough investigation and military reinforcement.
Security sources have not yet released detailed official figures or statements regarding the latest Shanga attacks, but local community leaders have urgently appealed to both state and federal authorities to deploy additional military and police units to restore calm and protect vulnerable villages. They argue that the escalation of violence into areas previously seen as more secure reflects shifting tactics by armed groups, who are increasingly exploiting porous rural terrain and limited security presence.
Analysts say the expansion of bandit activity into Kebbi’s hinterlands highlights persistent challenges facing Nigeria’s security forces in effectively containing and dismantling armed criminal networks. These groups, often described locally as “bandits” but with affiliations to broader terror networks in some cases, have been able to operate across states like Zamfara, Sokoto and Niger, complicating efforts to curb violence that disrupts farming cycles, displaces families and threatens economic stability in affected communities.
The Nigerian Government has periodically launched counter‑banditry campaigns, including aerial surveillance and ground patrols, in an effort to limit these incursions. Last year, President Bola Tinubu ordered round‑the‑clock aerial monitoring of forest zones across parts of the North‑West, including Kebbi, to track militant movement and pre‑empt attacks. However, security officials concede that limited resources and the adaptability of armed gangs continue to undermine sustained peace efforts in rural belts.
For the residents of Shanga and surrounding villages, the recent violence has shattered any sense of calm they had managed to build after previous attacks. Community associations and elders have been mobilising to support displaced families and call for immediate action from both state security agencies and national leadership to prevent further bloodshed and protect the lives of citizens who live under the ever‑present threat of armed violence.
As the situation continues to unfold, the lack of an official government response has been felt keenly among those affected, who hope that rapid deployment of security forces, timely humanitarian intervention and strengthened local defence structures will help stem the tide of violence and allow homes, farms and schools to function without fear of attack once again.
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