At least seven people have been killed in a wave of attacks by suspected bandits on communities in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State, triggering fear, displacement, and urgent calls for increased security.
According to residents, the violence began on Tuesday and escalated on Wednesday night, when assailants stormed Tungan Giwa village, killing two people and forcing many locals to flee their homes.
The attacks followed incidents in other parts of the LGA earlier in the week. Community sources reported that five residents were killed in Kaiwa village, where the attackers also set the house of the village head on fire.
The bandits reportedly extended their raids to Gebbe town, killing one person, before moving to Gurwo town on Wednesday, where another resident was killed.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the continuous attacks have spread fear and panic, forcing people from surrounding villages to abandon homes, farmlands, livestock, and belongings.
“Many families have fled to Shanga town for safety. People have lost everything, and the situation is becoming more desperate by the day,” the source said.
Members of the affected communities are appealing to the government to urgently deploy additional military and security personnel to protect civilians and restore peace in the area.
While acknowledging existing efforts to combat insecurity, residents stressed the need for a stronger and more visible security presence to prevent further loss of life and destruction of property.
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