Bandits Attack Kebbi Community, Four Dead and Soldier Missing

Four people have died, and a soldier is missing after bandits attacked Tudun Bicci community in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

Hussaini Aliyu Bena, the chairman of Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, confirmed this in a phone interview with journalists on Thursday. He clarified some mixed reports about the number of casualties.

Bena said the attack happened when armed bandits invaded the farmlands. This led to a gunfight with security personnel and local forest guards.

He rejected claims that a soldier was among the dead. He explained that two forest guards and two civilians lost their lives in the attack.

"The reports circulating that a soldier was killed are not correct. The victims were two forest guards and two civilians, while one soldier is currently missing," Bena said.

He mentioned that many bandits were also killed during the shootout, while some others ran away with gunshot wounds.

"Many of the bandits were killed during the encounter, while others fled into the forest with gunshot wounds," he added.

Bena said the Kebbi State Government, along with security agencies and the local government, is working hard to stop these attacks and kidnappings.

"The state government, working closely with security agencies and the local government, is taking decisive measures to bring an end to the incessant attacks and kidnappings in this area," he said.

He linked the ongoing insecurity in Danko/Wasagu to bandit camps in nearby Zamfara and Niger states.

"The security challenges we are facing are largely due to the existence of bandits’ camps in neighbouring Zamfara and Niger states, from where these criminals launch attacks," he said.

Bena urged residents to stay calm and assist security agencies with good information as they work to restore peace.

"We urge our people to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies. The government is committed to restoring peace and ensuring that lives and property are adequately protected," Bena said.

Danko/Wasagu is one of the areas hardest hit by banditry in Kebbi State. It shares borders with parts of Zamfara and Niger states, where armed bandit groups have hideouts in large forest areas. The region has seen many attacks on farming communities, kidnappings for ransom, cattle theft, and deadly ambushes on security forces in recent years.

This latest attack comes just days after suspected bandits kidnapped a Kebbi State High Court judge, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza. This incident raised more concerns about the worsening security situation in the state.

The kidnappers reportedly demanded a N200 million ransom for the judge's release. This has led to calls for stronger security measures across the North-West.

In response to the growing threats, Governor Nasir Idris recently held a security meeting with heads of security agencies, local government leaders, traditional rulers, and vigilante groups. They discussed ways to improve the state's security and tackle banditry and other violent crimes.

Efforts to reach the Kebbi State Police Command for comments were unsuccessful. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bashir Usman, could not be contacted at the time of this report.