Bandits have killed two vigilante members, while one was seriously injured in Wamba village of Mariga Local Council of Niger State.

Guardian learnt that 300 suspected bandits on their motorcycles, each carrying one or two persons with sophisticated weapons, were sighted crossing the Kontagora to Minna highway between Kampanin Bobby and Wamba villages of Mariga.

A source from the area, who didn’t want his name in print, stated that the incident occurred Monday, 5th May 2025, in the afternoon at about one o’clock, where several motorists and people in transit gathered at Kampanin Bobby, some moving towards Kontagora town to save their lives.

It was further gathered that the suspected bandits were coming from Zamfara State, crossing towards the Mashegu Local Government Area of the state.

A driver who stopped over at Kampanin Bobby had hinted that there was no presence of security operatives to confront the bandits, who were moving freely towards their destination.

Another source, who spoke in a telephone interview, said that the military officers at Beri camp had been mobilised into the forest to confront the criminals.

When contacted, the Chairman of Mariga Local Council, Abbas Kasuwa Garba, also confirmed the incident on telephone, and disclosed that joint security has been deployed to ensure the protection and safety of the communities.

“Two of the vigilantes from Wamba who went to confront the bandits were killed, while one that was injured is now undergoing treatment,” he said.
The Commissioner for Homeland Security, Niger State, Brigadier General Muhammad Bello Abdullahi (retd), could not be reached for comment.