By Muhammad Mamman
The Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Army have delivered a devastating blow to banditry in Niger State, killing more than 50 armed men and rescuing kidnapped victims in a dramatic joint offensive.
The fierce clash unfolded on 26 August in Kumbashi village, Mariga Local Government Area, and is being hailed as one of the most decisive security victories in recent memory.
Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulmalik Mohammed Sarkin-Daji, praised the operation as “a demonstration of superior intelligence, training and firepower,” commending the operatives for standing firm against overwhelming odds.
According to eyewitness accounts, about 300 heavily armed bandits stormed Kumbashi at around 3 p.m. on Tuesday, targeting a DSS camp in the area. But the attackers were met with fierce resistance. After an intense gun battle, more than 50 bandits lay dead, while dozens fled with serious injuries.
Residents recounted grim scenes as the retreating bandits dismembered the bodies of their fallen comrades, stuffed them into sacks, and ferried them away on motorbikes.
Seven kidnapped victims were freed during the raid, while herds of rustled cattle were also recovered.
The operation follows an earlier breakthrough in Wawa, Niger State, where the DSS captured Abubakar Abba, leader of Mahmuda — one of Nigeria’s most notorious terror groups — alive.
For many in Niger, the victory signals a turning point. Locals in Kumbashi said they were inspired by the resilience of the operatives, who fought despite being outnumbered nearly six to one.
“They stood their ground when hundreds surrounded them. Without their bravery, Kumbashi would have been wiped out,” one resident said.
Speaker Sarkin-Daji urged citizens to sustain support for security agencies by providing timely intelligence, while assuring that the Assembly would strengthen legislative backing for security operations.
The Niger clash adds to a string of successful joint missions between the DSS and the military, underscoring Nigeria’s shift towards intelligence-led warfare in dismantling terror and bandit networks across the country.
