Bandits attack Rijau town in broad daylight, stealing livestock and abducting locals, as over 200 gunmen leave fear and chaos in Niger state community
For over three hours, the bandits attack Rijau town incident left residents reeling in shock and fear. According to reports, over 200 armed men stormed the area on motorcycles.
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“They came around 1:15 in the afternoon and didn’t leave until after 3:30,” a local source told our correspondent. “It was terrifying. They took cows, goods, and even people.”
The attackers, reportedly including women, followed villagers into the town after hearing cattle had been moved there for protection. They split into smaller groups, raiding shops and homes.
Point of Service outlets were ransacked, with cash and mobile devices stolen. Some of the women with the group even dared locals to confront their armed partners.
Women and children scrambled for safety as gunfire echoed through the town. About 20 residents were abducted. Several others were injured by stray bullets, though no fatalities were reported.
Shockingly, local security personnel disappeared during the siege. “They all ran,” the source confirmed. No security infrastructure was directly attacked.
A helicopter was later seen hovering over the town, but by then the bandits had already escaped.
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So far, there has been no official comment from the state government or police authorities regarding the raid. Rijau local government shares a boundary with Kebbi, an area often hit by similar attacks.
