The wave of insecurity rocking Nigeria’s North-Central and North-West regions took a tragic turn on Tuesday as no fewer than 20 soldiers were reportedly killed by armed bandits in a surprise attack on a military camp near Bangi, in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.
The early morning raid, which occurred around dawn on June 24, 2025, left multiple soldiers dead and several others injured, according to military sources.
Speaking with SaharaReporters, a source within the security forces confirmed the fatal ambush.
“Today, about 20 soldiers were killed by armed bandits near Bangi, Mariga LGA of Niger State in an early morning attack on their camp,” the source said.
Photographs reportedly showing some of the slain soldiers have since been obtained by SaharaReporters, though the Nigerian Army has yet to release an official statement on the attack as of press time.
The attack has triggered fresh fear and displacement among residents of affected communities. Locals in the Bangi area are said to be fleeing in droves, afraid of further violence as bandit groups continue to operate with growing boldness and sophistication.
This latest assault adds to a string of deadly encounters between troops and criminal elements in Niger State, which has become a hotspot for bandit activities, with rural communities frequently under siege.
In a separate but equally deadly incident, suspected terrorists reportedly killed more than 15 civilians in Tofa village, located in Magami district of Gusau Local Government Area, Zamfara State.
According to sources, the village was attacked on Sunday, and most residents have since abandoned their homes, unable to meet the levies imposed by the terrorists and without adequate protection from security forces.
“In Tofa, over 15 people were massacred, many others were injured, and some were nowhere to be found,” a local source said.
Military authorities have remained silent following both incidents, but SaharaReporters revealed that the families of the slain soldiers have been notified, including that of Lieutenant Isma’il Yahya, one of the officers killed while reportedly repelling an attack along a highway in Zamfara.
“The bandits on Sunday attacked the community; they ambushed the troops and killed many of them,” a source added.
