Ex-SUBEB chair, many others kidnapped as bandits attack Niger, Taraba communities

A former Chairman of the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Alhassan Bawa Niworo, and Permanent Commissioner 7 of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission, Ahmad Mohammed, have been kidnapped by terrorists. They were reportedly kidnapped alongside their drivers and several other travellers around 4pm on Monday, September 29, 2025, between Felegi and Ibi communities […]

A former Chairman of the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Alhassan Bawa Niworo, and Permanent Commissioner 7 of the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission, Ahmad Mohammed, have been kidnapped by terrorists.

They were reportedly kidnapped alongside their drivers and several other travellers around 4pm on Monday, September 29, 2025, between Felegi and Ibi communities on Mokwa-New Bussa Road in Borgu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

Sources said the former Chairman of SUBEB, alongside other people, including Barrister Ahmad Mohammed, were on their way to Minna when the terrorists blocked the road and whisked them into the nearby forest.

Several other abductees were said to be traders returning from the New Bussa weekly market.

 

How villages allegedly shield terrorists

Some of the kidnapped victims who regained freedom on Friday after payment of millions of naira ransom told Daily Trust that their captors were shielded by a few villages where they used as camps.

He said one of the villages was Telle village in Mashegu LGA. Other villages alleged to have been used as camps include Koloho and Fanga.

Our correspondent could not independently verify if the listed villages provide a shield under duress.

Daily Trust recalls that in May 2025, security operatives arrested a village head of Guiwa, Garba Mohammed, and 13 others from Telle and other villages in Mashegu, Borgu, Rijau, among other LGAs for aiding banditry in Niger State.

The village head, according to the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, was arrested alongside 13 others following an intelligence report about their alleged involvement with bandits.

Community leaders reportedly used their residence as a hideout, where bandits regularly met to plan their operations.

Abiodun said the arrests followed clearance operations targeting bandits’ and kidnappers’ hideouts in the Mashegu area.

“On 22nd May, 2025, police operatives and vigilante members conducted clearance operations in some identified kidnappers’ hideouts in Mashegu LGA, such as Magaman-Daji forest and its environs, and in the process, most of the suspected kidnappers fled from the scene, and others were believed to have escaped with gunshot injuries.

“On 23rd May, 2025, at about 9am, in continuation of this operation, the team stormed Guiwa and Telle villages based on credible information received, and the Mai-Angwan of Guiwa village, Mall. Garba Mohammed, was arrested for screening and aiding banditry activities, using his house as a hideout, with the recovery of four motorcycles kept in his custody and ten cattle.

“Thirteen others were also arrested in different locations within Mashegu LGA for similar reasons. However, they are under interrogation, and an investigation is in progress to ascertain their roles and involvement in banditry activities in the area,” Abiodun explained.

Although the police spokesperson did not provide the names of the other suspects, sources identified other suspects as Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu of Wawa village, Borgu LGA; Umar Abubakar of Gwajibo; Musa Mohammed of Telle village; Mohammed Abubakar of Dukku, Rijau LGA; Molema Aliyu of Pallagi; Oro Abubakar of Arera; Shehu Alhaji Ardo of Adogon Mallam; Umar Abdullahi, Ibrahim Abubakar, Saidu Mohammed, and Babuga Abdullahi—all of Lumma; Mohamadu Bako of Gwajibo; and Babuga Saidu of Lumma.

In the latest attacks, residents told Daily Trust that Telle and neighbouring villages have become notorious for aiding and abetting attacks in the area.

 

Many farmers flee as attacks persist

Residents of farming communities in Mariga, Magama, Kontagora, Mashegu, Borgu and Rijau LGAs in the Niger North Senatorial District of Niger State have continued to flee their homes for the past five days due to renewed attacks on their communities and constant movement of bandits in the area.

In the wee hours on Tuesday, residents told our correspondent that bandits numbering over 200 invaded Ibeto, a community in Magama LGA, forcing the residents to flee.

In a video shared by one of the residents, women and children walked through dark paths with torchlights to escape in the wee hours on Tuesday.

“Yesterday night (Monday), they crossed to communities including Dogon-Daji, Ugulu, Maira, Atabo and Ibeto. They also invaded Lioji village before crossing to Maira, Ugulu, Atabo and Ibeto. At Atabo, many residents were kidnapped when they couldn’t get cattle to rustle,” he said.

He said residents of Ibeto fled their homes in the night before bandits eventually took over the community.

Sporadic gunshots were reported when they invaded Ibeto, but fleeing residents could not establish if there were casualties.

Another source said, “They entered Magama this morning (Tuesday) before proceeding to Yangale, where they kidnapped four people.

“They were in groups. We are currently in the bush with children and women. Please help us with prayers. We need help.”

Also on Saturday afternoon, bandits numbering over a hundred reportedly invaded Talle, a village in the Kulho ward of Mashegu LGA of Niger State.

The fleeing residents told Daily Trust that the attackers arrived at the village around 2pm and ordered all shop owners in the community to close their businesses.

One of the residents said the bandits also blocked all access routes into the village, preventing entry and exit except for a few others who took a risk and escaped.

Daily Trust also gathered that residents of Ragada and adjoining communities in Mariga LGA fled their homes since Sunday, following the movement of bandits in the area.

One of the residents told Daily Trust they slept on mountains despite rainfall and watched bandits cooking food in their homes.

On Saturday afternoon, dozens of travellers were also reportedly kidnapped along the Kontagora-Rijau Road.

The Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry for Homeland Security, Aminu Aliyu Goro, did not pick his calls. He did not reply to messages sent to his phone as well.

The spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, however, confirmed the attack on the Ibbi-New Bussa road but was silent on other attacks.

He said one of the police officers on patrol was injured and a patrol vehicle was damaged while repelling the attackers.

According to him, “On 29th Sept., 2025 at about 11.30am, suspected armed men attacked the Police nipping point along Ibbi-Bussa Road. The police tactical team engaged and repelled the hoodlums, and in the process, the police patrol vehicle was damaged with gunshots, while one of the policemen sustained gunshot injury and was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.”

He added that, “Unfortunately, the fleeing armed men later blocked the road ahead of the police nipping point, and abducted some passengers along the road from about three vehicles. The Police Command has mobilised more tactical teams with other security agencies, and vigilante members trailing the suspected kidnappers with a view to rescuing the abducted victims and possibly arresting the hoodlums.”

 

Bandits stage comeback in Taraba

Meanwhile, fear has gripped residents of Karim-Lamido Local Government Area of Taraba State as bandits staged a comeback into the area where they were flushed out two years ago.

The bandits in their number are reportedly coming into the area through the forest in villages that share boundaries with Plateau and Bauchi states.

Daily Trust gathered that in recent weeks, dozens of traders and farmers were abducted by the bandits, while cattle traders were also robbed and dispossessed of millions of naira.

The bandits, it was further gathered, have camps at Gwana Mountain and Mashigin Kurna forest and are moving freely with their faces open and harassing farmers and traders in the area.

Alhaji Sale Binnari, a resident of one of the communities, said the presence of the bandits was noticed about two weeks ago, and they have abducted many people, adding that most of those abducted are still in captivity.

Another resident who identified himself as Musa Andami told Daily Trust that the bandits are using a canoe to transport those they abducted to their hideout across Mashigin Kurna, which is heavily guarded by the bandits.

Tanko Bobbo Andami, one of the community leaders in the area, told Daily Trust that bandits who were flushed out of the area two years ago have staged a comeback into the area.

He said residents of the area are now living in fear because of the activities of the bandits.

He said the bandits are using Gwana Mountain, located at the boundaries between Taraba and Bauchi states, as their camp.

Tanko Bobbo stated that the bandits are targeting residents of Bachama, Dogeli, Kotibi, Gora, Fataki, Kwatti, Andami, Garau, Tale Jibu, Faskari, Kwamadoro, Jab-Jab and Belengo, among other villages.

Another resident, Lawal Rabiu, also expressed serious concern over the activities of bandits in the area.

He said residents now sleep with one eye open for fear of the bandits’ attacks.

“The experience we had when bandits invaded our area two years ago is still fresh in our minds, during which many people were killed and dozens of others abducted by the bandits.

“The bandits have staged a comeback in our area, and have abducted many people already. If urgent action is not taken, the bandits will repeat what they did some years ago,” he said.

The police commissioner in the state, Betty Otimenyin, when contacted, referred our reporter to the Public Relations Officer of the Taraba police command, ASP Leshen James, who said, “There is nothing like that.”