Armed bandits struck again in Niger State, leaving a magistrate and another passenger wounded after ambushing a vehicle along the Kontagora–Tegina highway.
The attack, which took place on Tuesday afternoon, targeted a commercial Toyota Corolla carrying commuters from Minna to Kontagora.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen suddenly appeared near Tudun-Fulani village, blocking the road and firing indiscriminately at the oncoming vehicle.
One of the victims was identified as Zakari Benjamin, the Chief Magistrate of the Rijau Magistrate Court.
Another passenger, Samaila Yusha’u, was also hit. Both men sustained gunshot wounds to their right legs.
“They came out of the bush shooting at random, forcing vehicles to stop. Unfortunately, two people in the car were hit before the driver could escape the scene,” a resident told reporters.
Security operatives were immediately dispatched to the area following distress calls, while the injured victims were rushed to the General Hospital in Kontagora.
Hospital sources confirmed that the magistrate and the other passenger are responding well to treatment.
Niger State authorities say security agencies are intensifying patrols along the highway to prevent further attacks.
“We are working closely with local communities to track these criminals and ensure they face justice,” a security officer involved in the operation said.
The Kontagora–Tegina road has become one of the most notorious routes in Niger State, frequently targeted by armed groups who prey on travellers.
Residents have repeatedly appealed to the government to reinforce security on the corridor.