Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
Abuja, Nigeria — At least six farmers were killed late last night in a fresh suspected bandit attack on Unguwar Wawa community in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, local sources and crisis monitors say, deepening fears over escalating rural insecurity in the region.
The assault unfolded around 10:00 p.m., when armed men — widely believed to be bandits — reportedly stormed farmlands where residents had been working under the cover of darkness. Witnesses told journalists that the assailants opened fire on the farmers at close range before fleeing the scene, leaving residents in shock and grief.
Community and crisis reporting identified the victims as Bahbe Bokobe, Luku, a member of the local vigilante group, Bahgado Bohboh, Naziru Kidebe, Abdulrahman Kidebe, also known as “Ogede,” and Bashiru Dahtobeh,” all males from the same community. The slain men were reportedly preparing for the next day’s work when the attack occurred.
After the gunmen left, residents alerted security forces, who quickly cordoned off the scene and evacuated the bodies to the General Hospital in Wawa for autopsy and formal documentation. As of this reporting, Niger State’s police command has not yet released an official public statement confirming the incident or offering details on arrests or ongoing investigations.
The latest violence in Unguwar Wawa follows a disturbing pattern of deadly raids in Borgu and neighbouring local government areas, where armed groups — operating from forest hideouts near Kainji Lake National Park — have repeatedly attacked rural communities, killing residents, rustling livestock, and abducting villagers. Last month, sources reported that gunmen invaded nearby villages resulting in multiple deaths and heightened insecurity across the corridor.
Analysts say the timing and method of last night’s assault — a nocturnal strike on unprotected farmers — is consistent with trends in banditry that have plagued northwestern and north-central Nigeria for years. These groups, frequently moving at night on motorcycles, target agricultural labourers and isolated communities where security presence is thin or absent, according to local conflict monitors.
Residents of Unguwar Wawa and adjacent villages have long endured sporadic violence, but recent attacks have amplified fears of a worsening security vacuum that threatens livelihoods and deepens humanitarian distress. Niger State’s rural farming belt is a critical food-producing area, and repeated assaults on farmers not only devastate families but also undermine food security and economic stability in an already fragile region.
Community leaders and local vigilante groups — some of whom suffered casualties in the latest raid — are calling on state and federal security agencies to intervene decisively. “We are tired of living in fear,” one resident told reporters. “Our farms are our livelihood; if we cannot work our land without being attacked, everything we depend on for survival is under siege.”
The Boko Haram insurgency and related bandit networks have inflicted significant suffering across northwest and neighbouring regions, often exploiting porous borders, remote forested terrain, and limited government presence to strike rural settlements. In Borgu alone, a high-profile raid on Kasuwan Daji market earlier this month reportedly killed scores of villagers and illustrated the severity and persistence of violence in the area.
Security analysts have warned that the evolving tactics of armed groups — including coordinated strikes on farmers, kidnappings and prolonged encampment near villages — may signal a hybrid threat landscape that blends criminal banditry with elements of organised extremist violence. They argue that conventional policing and military responses, while necessary, must be accompanied by enhanced intelligence, community protection strategies, and socioeconomic development to address long-term insecurity drivers.
In the aftermath of last night’s attack, local authorities and civil society organisations are pressing for immediate reinforcement of security patrols, greater deployment of federal assets, and sustained engagement with community leadership to protect vulnerable populations. Many residents also continue to appeal for divine intervention as they grapple with fear and loss, hoping that decisive action will usher in a period of calm and allow them to return to their farmlands safely.
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