Security forces have killed more than 50 bandits and rescued kidnapped victims during a joint operation in Kumbashi village, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.
The operation, carried out on Tuesday, followed an attempted invasion by about 300 armed men who targeted a Department of State Services (DSS) camp in the area. According to security sources, operatives of the DSS and the Nigerian Army engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to retreat after heavy losses. Several others were said to have fled with gunshot wounds.
Seven kidnapped victims and rustled cattle were also recovered during the operation.
Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Mohammed Sarkin-Daji, commended the security agencies, describing the operation as a major step forward in efforts to curb banditry in the state.
The incident comes just days after DSS operatives arrested Abubakar Abba, leader of Mahmuda, a notorious terror group, in Wawa, Niger State — an arrest seen by analysts as a significant breakthrough in ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
Residents of Kumbashi expressed relief following the operation, noting that it has renewed confidence in the ability of security forces to protect communities long troubled by armed groups.
Banditry has been a persistent security challenge in Niger State and other parts of northwestern Nigeria, where criminal gangs carry out raids, kidnappings, and cattle rustling. Authorities say recent coordinated offensives are part of a wider strategy to dismantle these networks and restore security across affected regions.
