A deadly explosion rocked Rafi Local Government Area on Saturday, February 22, 2025, when a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) planted by armed bandits detonated, killing one man and gravely injuring another. In a separate incident hours later, suspected robbers stabbed a Suleja resident, underscoring a grim day of violence in Niger State.
Intelligence sources briefed Zagazola Makama, a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad Region, detailing the Rafi explosion that occurred around 11:00 a.m. between Pandogari Military Camp and Ringa Village. “Two men riding a motorcycle unknowingly stepped on the planted explosive,” sources reported, identifying the victims as Ayuba Makeri and Dahiru Ibrahim Gulu, both from Ringa Village. The blast’s ferocity claimed Makeri’s life instantly, leaving his companion, Ibrahim, with severe injuries. “Makeri died instantly, while Ibrahim sustained serious injuries and was rushed to the General Hospital in Pandogari for medical attention,” the sources confirmed, painting a stark picture of the sudden tragedy.
Security forces, alongside bomb disposal units, swiftly descended on the scene, combing the area for clues and launching an investigation to hunt down the perpetrators. A senior security official, speaking anonymously, vowed a robust response. “Efforts were being intensified to clear the area of explosive threats planted by insurgents and criminal groups,” he told Makama, signaling a broader campaign to neutralize the lurking danger of IEDs in bandit-infested zones. The incident has heightened fears among locals, who now face the chilling reality of hidden threats along familiar routes.
In a separate assault, violence struck again in Suleja, where suspected armed robbers ambushed Abubakar Murtar in the early hours of Saturday. The attack, reported around 3:00 a.m. on Church Road, left the victim fighting for his life after a brutal stabbing. “The attackers stabbed Murtar in the neck before fleeing with his belongings,” security sources confirmed, citing a complaint lodged by Lukman Abdullahi at the ‘A’ Division Police Station in Suleja. Murtar was raced to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital in Abuja, where medical teams are battling to stabilize him.
The twin incidents cast a shadow over Niger State, exposing the dual menace of banditry and robbery plaguing its communities. In Rafi, the IED explosion underscores the growing sophistication of bandit tactics, turning everyday paths into potential deathtraps. Meanwhile, Suleja’s predawn robbery reflects a persistent urban threat, with assailants exploiting the cover of darkness to strike. For residents like Makeri’s grieving family and Murtar’s anxious loved ones, the day’s toll is deeply personal—a stark reminder of insecurity’s human cost.
As investigations unfold, authorities face mounting pressure to curb these escalating dangers. The deployment of bomb disposal teams in Rafi signals an urgent push to dismantle bandit networks, while police in Suleja scour for leads to nab Murtar’s attackers. Yet, with one life lost, another hanging in the balance, and a community on edge, the road to safety remains fraught. Niger State’s residents now look to security forces for answers—and action—hoping to reclaim peace from the grip of violence.