Loading ...KABOJI— A quiet community in Niger State became a warzone on Friday when two notorious armed factions clashed in a brutal turf war, leaving multiple fighters heavily injured.
But the real shockwave hit hours later when a military helicopter reportedly touched down in the village, allegedly rescuing the wounded gunmen instead of arresting them.
The gunbattle broke out in Kaboji, a rural community in the Mashegu Local Government Area. Local sources say fighters loyal to the long-time bandit kingpin, Dogo Gide, clashed with an insurgent faction known as the Lakurawa.
A Bloody Battleground
The two groups, both heavily armed, turned the area near a local school and cemetery into a shooting gallery. Witnesses reported that multiple gunmen from both sides sustained severe injuries before the shooting finally ceased.
The Lakurawa group—an extremist faction with roots in the Sahel region—has recently been pushing into northern Nigeria, frequently clashing with established local bandit groups like Dogo Gide’s network over territorial control and the power to extort local communities.
The Landing That Sparked Outrage
While residents were still reeling from the gunfire, a military helicopter arrived and landed near the village school. According to terrified locals who watched from hiding, the aircraft did not deploy troops to comb the forest or secure the village. Instead, it was used to evacuate the wounded bandits from the scene.
The incident has triggered massive outrage across Niger State, with angry community members taking to social media to accuse the military of collusion and protecting terrorists.
“We are living in fear, and then we see a whole government helicopter picking up the same people who are terrorizing us,” said one local resident, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons. “It makes us feel completely abandoned.”
Two Sides to the Story
As anger boils over, security experts urge caution, noting that there are two very different ways to view the mysterious landing:
- The Collusion Theory: Angry locals believe elements within the security forces are actively assisting bandit factions, a suspicion fueled by years of frustration with the region’s fragile security.
- The Rescue Mission Theory: Military insiders suggest a completely different reality. In complex jungle warfare, the Nigerian Air Force frequently conducts high-risk casualty evacuations. It is highly possible the helicopter was sent to rescue wounded soldiers or local vigilantes who had secretly engaged the bandits, or that the military evacuated the wounded terrorists specifically to keep them alive for high-level intelligence interrogation.
At the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army has not released an official statement regarding the flight mission in Kaboji, and efforts to reach the military spokesperson for comment were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, a tense silence hangs over Kaboji as frightened residents wait to see if the rival factions will return to settle the score.
