By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
A combined team of the Department of State Services (DSS) and troops of the Nigerian Army have dealt a devastating blow on bandits in Niger state neutralising over 50 in battle and rescued kidnapped victims in Mariga local government area of the state.
The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday August 26, 2025 in Kumbashi village of Mariga Local Government Area which locals hailed as one of the most successful security interventions in recent times.
Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly Rt Honourable Abdulmalik Mohammed Sarkin-Daji representing the Mashegu state constituency confirm the development describing the operation as “a demonstration of superior intelligence, training and firepower by the security agencies “.
While commending the operatives for their courage, the Speaker Sarkin-Daji said eyewitnesses from Kumbashi told Zagazola Makama that about 300 bandits, armed with sophisticated weapons, attempted to invade the village at about 3 pm on Tuesday.
according to him, “The attack was targeted a DSS service asset camp in the area. However, security operatives swiftly repelled the assault after a fierce gun duel that left no fewer than 50 of the assailants dead. Several others reportedly fled with gunshot wounds”.
“My constituents confirmed that the bandits, clearly shaken by the scale of their losses, were seen dismembering the corpses of their dead colleagues, loading them in sacks, and hauling them off on motorcycles,” Sarkin-Daji said.
Community sources in Kumbashi said that the success of the operation was particularly inspiring, adding that, “They stood firm when hundreds of bandits surrounded them. If not for their bravery, Kumbashi would have been wiped out”.
The Speake urged residents of the state to continue supporting security agencies with timely information to sustain the momentum against the criminal groups assuring that the state House of Assembly will continue to provide legislative backing to enhance security interventions in the state
Meanwhile apparently fleeing the troop’s onslaught in Mariga local government, the bandits on Thursday found their old route to Zungeru seen in large numbers around Akere in Wushishi local government area of the state .
Community source noted that the armed miscreants, at about 10 am of Thursday blocked Minna/ Kontagora highway at Kundu their usual route crossing to Mashegu local government of the state.
It was gathered that the bandits shot three people killing one civilian and a vigilante while the other civilian has been rushed to the hospital for medical treatment
A community leader who spoke on the condition of anonymity stated that this is the first time in history to see such influx of over 1000 bandits carrying sophisticated weapons trooping into the area in Niger state.
According to him, “the tension of threat is enormous, the entire communities in that axis have been stranded in Zungeru town including children, women pregnant women and older persons.
The community leader however appealed to the state and federal governments to immediately deploy security operatives to protect and safeguard the area so that residents can return to their various communities
When contacted, the Niger State command Police Public Relations Officer PPRO SP Wasiu Abiodun, promised to verify from Zungeru axis before speaking on the matter.
