Communities in Niger State are reeling from a fresh wave of violence after armed bandits launched coordinated attacks that left residents traumatised and heightened fears across the region. In the latest incident on Wednesday, gunmen stormed the Palaita community in Erena Local Government Area, abducting 24 people from a farmland where labourers were harvesting crops. The victims, taken in a swift and terrifying operation, included a heavily pregnant woman who was reportedly in her third trimester.
According to residents, the attackers emerged suddenly from the surrounding bush, encircling the workers before they had any chance to flee. The bandits fired warning shots into the air to suppress resistance, forcing the labourers to surrender. Witnesses said the captives were marched deep into the forest, leaving behind scattered harvesting tools and personal belongings. Family members who rushed to the scene after hearing gunfire found only traces of the struggle and the ruts created by motorcycles believed to have been used by the attackers.
In a disturbingly separate yet related episode within the same local government area, another group of bandits struck a nearby settlement and subjected a blind resident to brutal treatment. The attackers reportedly demanded information or assistance that the visually impaired man could not provide. Frustrated or angered by his inability to comply, they mutilated him by cutting off one of his arms before fleeing the area. Neighbours later discovered him in critical condition and rushed him for medical attention.
The dual attacks have plunged the entire Erena axis into fear, with residents describing the events as among the most shocking in recent months. Many say the criminals have become emboldened, carrying out raids in broad daylight and targeting isolated communities, farms, and vulnerable households. Farmers in particular have been hit hard, as repeated incursions have made it increasingly unsafe to access farmlands during the crucial harvest season.
Local leaders and community volunteers report that movement has drastically reduced in the affected areas, especially during early morning and evening hours when bandits are known to roam. Market attendance has also dwindled as people fear travelling along unprotected rural roads. Parents are keeping their children indoors, and several families have already begun relocating temporarily to safer towns.
Calls for government intervention have grown louder, with residents appealing for a coordinated security response to deter further attacks. Many believe that without increased patrols, improved intelligence gathering, and stronger collaboration between security agencies and local vigilante groups, the situation could deteriorate rapidly.
Community elders warn that the repeated assaults are not only endangering lives but are also crippling economic activity. Agriculture, the primary source of livelihood in the area, has suffered as farmers abandon fields out of fear. They urge authorities to act decisively to safeguard lives and restore confidence across rural communities that have endured months of relentless hostilities.
For now, families of the abducted victims wait anxiously for news of their loved ones, hoping the captors will not subject them to further harm. As night falls, tension deepens across Erena and surrounding villages. With no arrests yet made and security forces still trying to assess the scale of the attacks, the region remains on edge — a stark reminder of the worsening insecurity that has gripped many parts of Niger State.
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