Jafaru Mohammed Ali escapes deadly bandit ambush in Niger as six soldiers are killed near Kainji National Park

Jafaru Mohammed Ali attack — The member representing Agwara/Borgu Federal Constituency, Hon. Jafaru Mohammed Ali, narrowly escaped death on Tuesday when armed bandits opened fire on his convoy during a constituency tour in Niger State.

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Six soldiers assigned to provide security for the lawmaker were killed in the ambush, which occurred at Kuble community along the Babanna road, close to the Kainji National Park, a known bandit stronghold.

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers—believed to be over 50 heavily armed men—laid in wait for the convoy before launching a barrage of gunfire. The lawmaker and his civilian aides managed to flee the scene unharmed.

A reinforcement team from the Nigerian Army was later deployed to evacuate the lawmaker and his team to Babanna town, while security surveillance was intensified across the Kuble–Babanna–Wawa axis to track down the assailants.

Sources said Governor Mohammed Bago dispatched a helicopter to Babanna to transport Hon. Jafaru and his entourage to Minna for safety and debriefing.

The ambush took place just metres from Kainji National Park, where criminal gangs have reportedly maintained a stronghold for nearly two years.

Security agencies have since launched intelligence and reconnaissance operations in the area to apprehend the perpetrators and restore safety in affected communities.

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The tragic attack underscores the worsening insecurity across Niger State, despite ongoing counterinsurgency operations in the region.