By Ahmed Liman kingimi, Maiduguri
At least five people have been killed and more than 18 others abducted after terrorists invaded Fanga in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, North-Central Nigeria, setting fire to the market square, shops, houses and vehicles in an attack that has forced residents to flee their homes.
According to a resident who spoke about the incident, the attackers stormed the community yesterday afternoon on more than 50 motorcycles, shooting sporadically and unleashing destruction on the area.
The attack reportedly occurred after the community failed to pay a levy imposed by the terrorists, despite receiving five separate notices demanding payment, a local source said.
The resident said most people had fled before the attackers arrived after receiving warnings that the terrorists were approaching. However, those who could not escape in time were caught in the attack.
“Yesterday afternoon, these terrorists invaded our community, riding on over 50 motorcycles, shooting sporadically and setting ablaze our market square, our stores, our houses and our vehicles,” the resident said.
“They abducted more than 18 members of our community and killed five. Those they killed were all men.”
The resident explained that the attackers mostly abducted women and children, alongside a few men, adding that the killings and abductions had intensified fear among the remaining residents.
He said he was currently taking refuge in a hidden location to avoid being killed, while the attackers were still operating around the community.
The resident further alleged that the terrorists had established a permanent base in a nearby settlement identified as Tanle, from where they repeatedly launch attacks on Fanga before returning to their hideout.
According to him, the continued presence of the armed group has made the community inaccessible and forced virtually every resident to flee.
“There is nobody left in our community. It is no longer accessible because these terrorists are still very close to our village. They have stationed themselves permanently in Tanle, and they come around to attack us before returning to their base,” he said.
The resident lamented that the community had effectively been abandoned, with families leaving behind their homes, businesses and livelihoods for fear of further attacks.
He said the situation had reached a point where residents felt they had lost control of their ancestral land to the terrorists.
The reported imposition of a levy on the community, followed by the attack after five alleged notices demanding payment, raises further concerns about the financial pressure armed groups place on vulnerable rural communities and the consequences for residents who cannot meet their demands.
The incident underscores the growing vulnerability of rural communities to armed groups that impose financial demands, abduct residents and use violence to enforce compliance.
