Ex-SUBEB Chair, Several Others Abducted As Bandits Attack Niger Communities

Former chairman of the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Alhassan Bawa Niworo, has been reportedly kidnapped. Niworo and several other travellers were abducted around 4 p.m. on Monday, September 29, 2025.

Sources confirmed that the attack occurred between Felegi and Ibi communities along Mokwa-New Bussa Road in Borgu Local Government Area (LGA). The former SUBEB chairman, alongside others including Barrister Ahmad, was en route to Minna when suspected terrorists blocked the road and took them into a nearby forest.

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

Villages Allegedly Shield Terrorists

Some kidnapped victims who regained freedom on Friday after paying millions of naira as ransom told Daily Trust that their captors were shielded by certain villages used as temporary camps. One victim identified Telle Village in Mashegu LGA, while other alleged camps included Koloho and Fanga.

Daily Trust could not independently verify claims that the villages provided shelter under duress. However, the newspaper recalled that in May 2025, security operatives arrested the village head of Guiwa, Mall. Garba Mohammed, and 13 others from Telle and other villages in Mashegu, Borgu, and Rijau LGAs for allegedly aiding banditry.

According to the Niger State Police spokesperson, community leaders used the village head’s residence as a hideout where bandits planned their operations. Police operations targeted known bandit hideouts, including Magaman-Daji Forest, and led to arrests and confiscation of weapons and livestock.

Sources further named other arrested suspects, including Alhaji Abdullahi Shehu (Wawa), Umar Abubakar (Gwajibo), Musa Mohammed (Telle), Mohammed Abubakar (Dukku), Molema Aliyu (Pallagi), Oro Abubakar (Arera), Shehu Alhaji Ardo (Adogon Mallam), Umar Abdullahi, Ibrahim Abubakar, Saidu Mohammed, Babuga Abdullahi (Lumma), Mohamadu Bako (Gwajibo), and Babuga Saidu (Lumma).

Residents noted that Telle and neighboring villages have gained a reputation for aiding armed attacks in the area. “Recently, the Telle village gained attention due to security operations where authorities arrested the village head of Guiwa and 13 others for allegedly supporting bandits,” one source said.

Renewed Attacks Force Farmers to Flee

Communities in Mariga, Magama, Kontagora, Mashegu, Borgu, and Rijau LGAs have experienced renewed bandit attacks, forcing residents to flee their homes over the past five days.

In the early hours of Tuesday, residents reported that over 200 bandits invaded Ibeto community in Magama LGA, causing widespread panic. A video circulated by a resident showed women and children escaping in darkness with torchlights.

“They crossed communities including Dogon-Daji, Ugulu, Maira, Atabo, and Ibeto, and also invaded Lioji village,” a resident explained. “At Atabo, many residents were kidnapped when they couldn’t provide cattle to rustle.”

Residents of Ibeto fled their homes before the bandits took over the community. Sporadic gunshots were reportedly heard, but fleeing residents could not confirm casualties.

Another source said, “They entered Magama this morning 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.”

On Saturday afternoon, bandits numbering over a hundred reportedly invaded Talle, a village in the Kulho ward of Mashegu LGA. Fleeing residents said the attackers arrived around 2 p.m., ordered shop owners to close, and blocked all access routes into the village, leaving only a few able to escape.

It was also gathered that residents of Ragada and adjoining communities in Mariga LGA fled their homes since Sunday following bandit movements. One resident said they slept on mountains despite rainfall while bandits cooked food in their homes.

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

The permanent secretary of the Niger State Ministry for Homeland Security did not respond to calls or messages regarding the development. However, the police spokesperson confirmed the attack on Ibbi-New Bussa road but remained silent on other incidents.

He said one of the policemen 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 he was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.”

Source: Informationng