In a chilling daylight assault, heavily armed bandits overran Rijau town, the administrative headquarters of Rijau Local Government Area in Niger State, leaving six people dead, several others injured, and countless families devastated.
The deadly invasion, which occurred around 2 p.m. on Monday, plunged the peaceful community into chaos as scores of gunmen on motorcycles stormed the town, operating with shocking freedom for hours—unhindered by any security response.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers blocked major entry and exit points, instilling panic among residents who scrambled for safety. As gunfire echoed through the town, parents frantically locked their children indoors, while others escaped into nearby bushes without a clear sense of direction or safety.
> “The streets became like a ghost town. Everyone just vanished,” one local recounted.
Shops and businesses were not spared, as the attackers looted food items, money, and other valuables. Multiple women and shop owners were forcibly abducted, further deepening the trauma.
In a tragic twist, hundreds of cattle belonging to both locals and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) seeking refuge in Rijau were rustled during the attack. A disturbing video obtained by SaharaReporters shows panic-stricken residents, including half-clad children and wailing mothers, fleeing in all directions. Many families were forced to abandon everything they owned in their desperate flight.
The carnage in Rijau follows a string of similar attacks in nearby Mariga Local Government Area, where villages such as Ya-Bawa, Maburya, Ragada, Kura’a, and Kumbashi have witnessed mass displacements. Residents from these areas have reportedly fled to Gulbin Boka and other neighboring communities, fearing for their lives and abandoning their farms.
As of Monday night, many displaced villagers were still hiding in bushes or makeshift shelters, afraid to return to their homes due to the repeated, unchecked operations of these armed gangs. Locals lament the absence of any sustainable security presence, which has emboldened the bandits to strike repeatedly without resistance.
Confirming the attack, the Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said:
> “We are monitoring the situation. Police tactical teams and the military have been deployed to the area.”
However, that assurance has done little to comfort the terrorized residents, many of whom say they have lost faith in the government’s ability to protect them.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, calls are growing louder for urgent intervention—not just to chase out the bandits, but to restore security, provide relief to victims, and reclaim territories now under the control of non-state actors.
PIONEER NEWS 