Armed men suspected to be bandits have attacked Gwadam village in Nagwamatse District, Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger State, killing one resident and abducting three others in a fresh assault that has heightened fears over the safety of rural communities.
The attack reportedly occurred between 1am and 2am on Friday night, October 16, when the assailants stormed the community, throwing residents into panic.
According to security alert expert Bakatsine, local vigilantes mobilised following the attack and reportedly confronted the assailants in an attempt to rescue the three abducted residents.
However, as of Saturday morning, October 17, the whereabouts of the victims remained unknown, raising concerns about their safety and the possibility that they could be held captive by the attackers.
Bakatsine disclosed the incident in a post on X, formerly Twitter, describing the attack and the subsequent response by local vigilantes.
āLast night, bandits attacked Gwadam village in Nagwamatse District, Kontagora LGA, Niger State, killing one person and abducting three others. The attack happened between 1am to 2am. Local vigilantes reportedly mobilised to confront the attackers and try to rescue the abducted victims,ā he wrote.
He added that the whereabouts of the three abductees remained unknown as of the time of reporting, expressing concern over the continued attacks on rural communities.
The security alert expert also questioned how long residents of rural communities in Niger State would continue to live in fear of armed attacks and when lasting security would be provided to protect them.
The latest incident adds to growing security concerns in Niger State, where several communities have faced threats from armed groups accused of killing residents, abducting people and disrupting daily life.
The attack on Gwadam village also highlights the risks confronting residents of rural communities, particularly where armed assailants can launch attacks at night, leaving villagers with limited time to respond.
Although local vigilantes reportedly mobilised to confront the attackers and attempt to rescue the abducted residents, there was no confirmed information as of Saturday morning on whether the victims had been recovered.
The identities of the deceased and the three abducted residents had also not been disclosed in the available account of the incident.
No official statement from the Niger State Government or security agencies was included in the report as of the time of filing this story.