By Obasola Olatunde
Communities in Kebbi were thrown into panic at the weekend following a new wave of coordinated bandit attacks that left more than 33 persons abducted, one individual shot, and security agencies scrambling to restore order.
In the latest incident on Saturday, gunmen believed to have crossed from neighboring Zamfara State invaded farming communities in the Wasagu axis of Kebbi State, abducting eight farmers and shooting one victim.
Confirming the attack, Chairman of Danko Wasagu Local Government Area, Hussaini Aliyu Bena, told journalists that the bandits struck while farmers were working on their fields.
“Eight of our farmers were taken away, and one person was shot. The injured victim is receiving treatment at the Wasagu General Hospital. Security agencies have been alerted and troops in the area are already pursuing the bandits,” he said.
Residents described the invasion as terrifying, adding that the bandits operated “for several minutes” before escaping with their victims.
A resident, Sani, expressed fear that the area was becoming increasingly unsafe:
“People are afraid to go back to the farms now. This is the second attack in less than two weeks. We don’t know what will happen next if nothing is done,” he said.
The attack comes barely weeks after more than 40 residents were abducted in the same belt, raising concerns about worsening insecurity in the region.
The Defence Headquarters on Sunday also condemned the abduction of 25 students of Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State, and the 303 pupils and students seized from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara LGA of Niger State.
The Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had earlier confirmed that the number of abducted pupils in the Papiri incident had risen to 303.
DHQ’s Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, described the attacks as “heinous,” noting that the military is fully deployed in both states to track down the criminals and secure the release of the victims.
“Our thoughts remain with the students, their families, and the affected communities. Troops are actively engaged in operations, and rescuing the abducted students is a top priority,” he said.
Onoja also addressed allegations by the Kebbi State governor that the terrorists struck the Maga school 30 minutes after troops were withdrawn from the premises.
He disclosed that the Defence Headquarters had launched a review to determine the circumstances surrounding the deployment at the time of the attack.
“We are aware of the governor’s claim. A thorough review is underway to ascertain what led to troop movement around the school. Operational decisions are based on intelligence and the broader security architecture. If any lapse is established, immediate corrective action will be taken,” he stated.
Security analyst Bakatsine, who first raised public alarm about the Wasagu attack on X (formerly Twitter), warned that communities in the axis are facing increasing vulnerability.
“The situation in Wasagu is becoming desperate. We need urgent, coordinated action before these communities are completely overwhelmed,” he said.
Villagers in both states are calling on the federal and state governments to strengthen deployments and increase surveillance around farms and schools, noting that repeated attacks are crippling agricultural activities and threatening education.
The unfolding events have further heightened fears across the North West and North Central, where a resurgence of bandit operations has been reported in recent weeks.