Residents of Fanga town in the Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State have narrated how terrorists, locally dubbed as bandits, invaded their community in broad daylight, killing one resident and shooting several others.
The residents said the attackers abducted four people and looted shops despite the community having previously paid millions of naira in levies demanded by the bandits.
SaharaReporters gathered that the assailants stormed the community in broad daylight, firing sporadically as residents fled for safety.
During the attack, the terrorists broke into shops, carted away goods and valuables, killed one elderly man, shot several residents, including a minor, and abducted four people before retreating.
Residents also lamented the complete absence of security personnel before, during and after the attack, saying government authorities had abandoned the area despite repeated reports and appeals for intervention.
Speaking in Hausa during an interview with Gaskiya Hausa, monitored by SaharaReporters, an eyewitness recounted the terrifying attack and the failed attempt by unarmed villagers to pursue the terrorists.
According to the witness, the villagers did not realise that another group of armed terrorists had positioned themselves outside the community to ambush anyone attempting to chase them.
“When our people chased after the attackers, they did not know that another group of the terrorists was lying in wait outside the village. Since our people had no weapons, the terrorists ambushed them and opened fire,” the witness said.
“They shot two young men who are now critically injured. They also shot another young man and another victim. One elderly man was shot dead. His funeral is taking place now.”
The witness explained that four people were abducted during the attack.
“They also abducted four people. Among those kidnapped were two visitors and two residents of our community,” he said.
Asked whether this was the first attack on Fanga, the resident said it was not.
“No. This is the third time they have attacked Fanga. It is the third attack we have suffered.”
The resident also disclosed that the terrorists operate from nearby settlements and have established several hideouts in the area.
“They come from nearby areas and move through places such as Fanga and Maikade, carrying out attacks. They have several hideouts in those areas. After attacking us, they return to those locations.”
The witness also confirmed longstanding reports that terrorists impose multimillion-naira levies on rural communities in exchange for temporary peace.
According to him, Fanga community had paid huge sums of money to the terrorists on two different occasions but was still repeatedly attacked.
“Yes. Fanga is one of the communities forced to pay them.”
“During their first invasion, they demanded and collected ₦2 million.”
Asked whether the community actually paid the money, he replied:
“Yes, we paid it.”
He added that the terrorists returned the following year with another demand.
“Then, last year, they returned and demanded ₦9 million, and we paid that as well.”
When asked to confirm the amount, he replied: “Yes, we did.”
Despite paying a total of ₦11 million in levies to the terrorists, the witness said the attacks never stopped.
“Exactly. Even after paying, we still have no peace.”
“The government has abandoned us. We no longer know where to seek help.”
According to him, the community has repeatedly reported the attacks and security threats to government authorities.
“Yes, we report them all the time. We constantly inform the authorities.”
However, he said the response from officials has remained the same.
“They always tell us they will take action. Every time, they promise that action will be taken.”
The resident explained that he had no direct access to Governor Umar Mohammed Bago or President Bola Tinubu but had consistently reported the situation through local government officials.
“We have already reported the matter through our local government because that is the proper channel for reaching the governor and the President.”
“Personally, I do not have the governor’s or the President’s phone numbers. I only have the number of our councillor, and I keep contacting him. He receives our reports.”
Appealing to the government for urgent intervention, the witness said residents were no longer asking for temporary military operations but for permanent security deployment.
“Our appeal is simple. We want the government to deploy security personnel to our area permanently. We do not want them to come only after an attack has happened. We want security forces stationed here to protect us at all times.”
He warned that the security crisis had consumed the entire Gana district.
“Yes. The entire Gana district has been overrun by terrorists. No community is safe anymore. There is nowhere in the whole area where people can sleep peacefully at night.”
(SaharaReporters)
