VIDEO: Bandits Seen Advancing Through Multiple Communities as Residents Raise Alarm

Residents of several communities in Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger State were thrown into panic on Sunday after dozens of suspected bandits were spotted moving openly through Libele and advancing toward Tashan Allura, Jibril Company, and a cluster of nearby villages along the busy Kontagora–Yauri route.

According to locals, the armed group—whose numbers were unclear due to the hurried nature of the sightings—moved in a coordinated formation, heading deeper into farming and herding settlements in the axis. Residents who recorded videos of the movement said the bandits neither concealed their presence nor made attempts to avoid public view, heightening fears of an imminent attack.

Eyewitnesses reported that the men, many dressed in dark clothing and carrying weapons, traveled through bush paths that connect Libele to other vulnerable villages. “We saw them passing in broad daylight. People were shouting for others to hide. Nobody could come out,” one resident recounted, adding that some villagers fled toward safer locations as soon as the alarm was raised.

The Kontagora–Yauri corridor—an economically significant link for traders, transporters, and rural communities—has witnessed repeated attacks in recent months. Bandits have frequently targeted the area for kidnappings, cattle rustling, and roadside ambushes, forcing residents to adopt self-imposed curfews and avoid evening travel.

Community leaders in affected villages said they immediately alerted security agencies after receiving reports of the advancing group. However, as of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from security authorities regarding deployments or the exact nature of the threat.

A local vigilante member who spoke on condition of anonymity described the movement as “a serious infiltration,” warning that the bandits’ direction suggested a possible regrouping or an attempt to take positions around strategic routes. He urged the military and police to respond promptly before the group launches coordinated attacks across multiple villages.

The incident has revived long-standing concerns over the security situation in Niger State, particularly in rural communities where banditry has displaced thousands and disrupted farming activities. Residents are calling for sustained military presence, improved surveillance, and urgent government intervention to prevent another wave of killings or mass abductions.

Meanwhile, tension remains high across Libele, Tashan Allura, and their neighboring settlements, as families prepare for the possibility of night raids. Several villagers have reportedly moved into Kontagora town for safety until the situation becomes clearer.

As the fear of a fresh attack looms, community stakeholders say the latest sighting reflects a troubling pattern of boldness by armed groups who increasingly move through localities without resistance—underscoring the urgent need for decisive security action.