Bandits ambush Niger lawmaker, Damisa’s convoy, kill soldier and injure several others

Gunmen, locally referred to as bandits, on Tuesday afternoon ambushed the convoy of Jafaru Mohammad Ali Damisa, Member representing Borgu and Agwara Federal Constituency in the Niger State House of Representatives, leaving one soldier dead and several others injured.

According to sources, the assailants also vandalised about 11 vehicles during the attack along the Lumma–Babanna road in Borgu Local Government Area.

The incident occurred while the lawmaker was en route to Babanna town for an official engagement, taking his security team and aides by surprise. Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers, who were heavily armed and lying in wait, opened fire between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM, triggering panic among members of the entourage, including security personnel and political supporters.

Sources familiar with the attack confirmed, “One soldier was killed on the spot, while about eight others sustained varying degrees of injuries. The wounded were immediately evacuated to the General Hospital, New Bussa, where they are currently receiving medical care.”

“At least four supporters of Hon. Damisa were also hit by stray bullets, though none of them sustained life-threatening injuries,” the sources added.

The attackers reportedly “vandalised about 11 vehicles in the convoy, riddling them with bullets and causing extensive damage.” Authorities have since evacuated the damaged vehicles from the scene.

Despite the intensity of the ambush, Damisa escaped unharmed, thanks to the swift response of his security escorts and reinforcements from troops at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Babanna, who engaged the assailants in a fierce gun duel, forcing them to retreat into the forest.