Hundreds of residents have reportedly fled their homes in Rukukuje, Rijau Local Government Area of Niger State, following a fresh advance by armed bandits from neighbouring Zamfara State.

The displacement occurred on Tuesday morning, October 13, forcing frightened residents to cross a river in an attempt to reach safety in Shambo.

A video shared on X by a user identified as Usman, with the handle @secmxx, showed large numbers of displaced people moving through muddy water as they left their communities.

The crowd reportedly consisted largely of women, children and elderly people. Some carried salvaged food items, cooking ingredients and personal belongings on their heads, while others pushed motorcycles through the river.

Residents Escape as Bandits Advance

Local sources told SaharaReporters that the mass movement followed an advance by armed bandits from the Zamfara axis early Tuesday.

A source familiar with the movement said the residents were heading towards Shambo because the armed group was advancing aggressively and they feared for their lives.

The development has heightened concerns over insecurity in the Rijau area, which the report described as vulnerable to attacks by armed groups moving from neighbouring Zamfara State.

The latest displacement adds to the challenges facing rural communities in northern Nigeria, where bandit attacks have forced residents to abandon their homes and disrupted livelihoods.

Displaced Families Face Uncertain Conditions

The fleeing residents face uncertainty in Shambo, where the sudden arrival of hundreds of people could place additional pressure on available resources.

SaharaReporters reported that the displaced population urgently needed shelter, food and medical assistance.

The incident also raises concerns about the impact of recurring insecurity on agricultural activities and the livelihoods of people in affected communities.

Police Yet to Confirm Details

As of the time of the report, the federal and Niger State governments had not issued statements on the latest displacement.

When contacted by SaharaReporters, Niger State Police Command spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun said he would verify the incident.

Further details about the number of affected households, the exact location of the advancing armed group and any response by security agencies were not immediately available.