By Gwurld4026 
Bandit Attack in Niger State: Vigilante and Girls Abducted
On the night of Wednesday, February 5, 2025, armed bandits attacked Pandogari community in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, resulting in the death of a local vigilante, Aliyu Aminu, and the abduction of six teenage girls aged between 15 and 17. The assailants reportedly entered the community from the Birnin Gwari axis, passing through the Mamman Kontagora Technical College, and conducted house-to-house raids before fleeing with the abducted girls to Kwangel Forest.
This incident marks the third attack on Pandogari within a week. Residents have expressed concerns that recent negotiations between the Kaduna State Government and armed groups in Birnin Gwari have inadvertently led to increased attacks on neighboring communities like Pandogari. They report that since these negotiations, there has been a noticeable uptick in bandit activities in their area.
The Chairman of Rafi LGA, Ayuba Usman Katako, confirmed the attacks, noting that while previous incidents primarily involved kidnappings, the latest assault resulted in the loss of a life. He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts between the Niger and Kaduna state governments to address the escalating insecurity.
In a motion of urgent public importance presented to the Niger State House of Assembly, Zubairu Isma’ila Zannan Kwangoma, representing Rafi Constituency, highlighted that within the past month, terrorists have kidnapped 122 individuals and killed two others in Rafi LGA. He identified the most affected communities as Pandogari, Gidigori, Ringa, and Kawo, noting that these frequent attacks have led to severe economic hardship, disrupted farming activities, and displaced many residents.
The community is calling for immediate action to enhance security measures and protect vulnerable populations from further attacks.