Thirteen people have been killed in a brutal overnight attack by suspected bandits in Mariga local government area of Niger State, Nigeria.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday night, targeted the communities of Magoro, Kumbashi and Bangi—the local government headquarters. Among the victims were three members of a local vigilante group and a police officer, according to local sources.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with around 150 motorcycles carrying armed men who opened fire indiscriminately, leaving dozens wounded. The assailants reportedly disabled a telecommunications mast before the attack, preventing residents from using mobile phones to call for help.
Local reports suggest the raid may have been revenge for recent military airstrikes on bandit camps along the border between Niger and Zamfara states. Those strikes came after 17 soldiers were killed two weeks ago in an ambush in Gulmin Boka, also in Mariga.
Speaking on Wednesday, Alhaji Abbas Kasuwa Garba, chairman of Mariga local government area, confirmed the attack but said the precise number of casualties remained unclear. He described a tense atmosphere as attackers continued to threaten nearby communities.
The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached for comment at the time of filing this report. However, a senior police official, who requested anonymity, confirmed that the attack had taken place.
