Suspected bandits have reportedly abducted six passengers in Anaba village along the Kontagora–Yauri Road in Magama Local Government Area of Niger State, setting their vehicle ablaze before fleeing with the victims to an unknown location.
The commercial Toyota Corolla was said to be en route from Kontagora to Yauri, Kebbi State, when it was ambushed at gunpoint by the assailants.
After abducting the passengers, the attackers were said to have extended their operation to the nearby villages of Libale, Iteri, and Isana, where they looted homes and rustled an unspecified number of cattle.
An eyewitness revealed that one villager sustained gunshot injuries during the attack, as the bandits fired indiscriminately upon entering the community.
In the aftermath of the raid, which has left residents in fear, a joint team of security personnel and local vigilantes has been deployed to the area to track the assailants and rescue the abducted victims.
A security source in the area confirmed that the situation remains tense, but efforts are ongoing to restore normalcy.
“Our men are combing the forest to track down the criminals and ensure the safe return of the kidnapped victims,” the source said.
Meanwhile, residents of the affected communities have appealed to the government to strengthen security patrols along the increasingly dangerous Kontagora–Yauri axis, which has become a hotspot for frequent bandit attacks.
