Local residents left isolated following militant attacks on law enforcement facilities

Thousands of communities across Nigeria have been abandoned by police forces, leaving them vulnerable to terrorist attacks, after bandits and armed groups forced the closure of numerous police stations, a recent investigation has uncovered.

n

This security vacuum, evident in at least seven states, has exposed millions of residents to kidnappings and violent attacks, prompting communities to rely on vigilantes, hunters, and informal security structures for survival.

n

In states such as Sokoto, Anambra, Niger, Kaduna, Plateau, Zamfara, Kwara, and Imo, many police facilities have been destroyed, abandoned, or left severely understaffed following repeated assaults by armed groups.

n

In many affected areas, residents are forced to travel long distances to reach the nearest police station, resulting in delayed response times to emergencies and growing concerns over access to justice and the collapse of grassroots policing.

n

In Zamfara State, over 1,000 communities lack a security presence, including police stations and outposts, leaving residents at the mercy of bandits and other armed groups.

n

A community leader in Bindin Village, Maru Local Government Area, Garba Sani, revealed that many villagers have relocated to Gusau, the state capital, and other areas due to persistent attacks by bandits and the absence of security personnel.

n

Sani stated that community leaders have repeatedly requested the establishment of a police station or the redeployment of security personnel to the area, but all efforts have yielded no result.

n

He emphasized that the lack of security presence has emboldened bandits, who now operate with impunity, even in broad daylight, in his village.

n

A community leader in Jangeme Village, Samaila Musa, also reported that the village has no nearby security presence, despite frequent bandit attacks, forcing residents to sleep in the bush and return to their homes the following morning.

n

A senior police officer in Zamfara State, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that security personnel are overwhelmed, with inadequate numbers and outdated weapons, making it difficult to confront the bandits.

n

The officer revealed that many police stations in Zamfara have come under attack, resulting in the deaths of several personnel, including the Divisional Police Officer, Kazeem Raheem, and Inspector Rabiu Umar, who were killed in March 2023.

n

However, the police authorities claim that no station has been officially shut down, despite years of attacks, with the spokesman for the Zamfara State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, stating that all 20 police stations across the state's 14 LGAs remain operational.

n

Abubakar added that the command is considering establishing additional police stations due to increasing requests from communities.

n

In Sokoto State, nearly 100 communities lack any form of police presence, with several police outposts in vulnerable communities shut down or merged with divisional headquarters after repeated attacks by armed groups.

n

A senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that isolated outposts have become difficult to defend, forcing officers to prioritize their own safety over protecting others.

n

Community leaders in Sokoto listed affected areas, including Mure, Chacho, Bado, Kasarawa, and several settlements around the Sokoto metropolis, where residents are now at the mercy of bandits and other armed groups.

n

A resident of Mure, Alhaji Musa Ibrahim, warned that more communities could become vulnerable if the security gap persists, as criminals become more confident in the absence of a nearby police station.

n

In Anambra State, many police facilities attacked by gunmen have remained non-functional, exposing residents to increased vulnerability and forcing them to rely on local vigilantes and Agunechemba operatives for security.

n

Our correspondents gathered that some of the affected facilities are located in Ihiala, Orumba South, Nnewi South, and Ogbaru LGAs, where community members have lamented the lack of police presence and the reliance on local security arrangements.

n

A community leader in Lilu, Ihiala LGA, Mazi Uzodike, said residents now travel to urban areas whenever they need police intervention, as the local police station was burnt down three years ago and has not been rebuilt.

n

Uzodike revealed that the community has resorted to depending on local vigilantes and Agunechemba operatives for protection, with residents contributing security levies to maintain these vigilantes on a monthly basis.

n

A woman leader in Ajali community, Orumba North LGA, Catherine Uzor, also reported that the community's police station remains non-functional after it was burnt down during attacks by armed agitators.

n

Findings by Saturday PUNCH across the 21 LGAs of Anambra State showed that police formations in eight LGAs came under severe attacks and were destroyed by secessionist groups between 2021 and 2024.

n

The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, stated that the police stations and facilities attacked in some communities have been rebuilt, and that residents are now witnessing improved security across the state.

n

In Kano State, residents of Tsanyawa, Shanono, and Bagwai LGAs have lamented the absence of police formations, with a police officer revealing that many villages have no police stations or outposts despite repeated attacks in recent years.

n

The officer disclosed that communities like Faruruwa, Bakaji, Unguwar Garma, and Goron Dutse experienced serious bandit attacks last year, and that residents in several communities now depend largely on military deployments for protection.

n

In Plateau State, several communities continue to struggle with inadequate policing following years of attacks on security facilities, with some residents of Agingi community in Bassa LGA reporting that the absence of a nearby police station has left them vulnerable to kidnappers and armed gangs.

n

A community leader in the village, John Goje, said attacks have become a recurring nightmare, with residents waiting for police to arrive from Jos or Miango, often too late to prevent harm.

n

Another community leader, Caleb Tarka, reported that repeated appeals for security infrastructure have yielded little result, and that the Angwan Rukuba Police Station in Jos North Local Government Area was burnt during communal unrest in 2016.

n

A police officer serving in Mangu LGA of the state, who identified himself simply as John for security reasons, described the challenges confronting officers operating in volatile communities, including inadequate patrol vehicles and fuel.

n

In Niger State, police stations have become symbolic targets for terrorists during attacks on communities, with a Superintendent of Police revealing that terrorists deliberately attack police stations to cripple local security operations.

n

In February 2026, terrorists attacked the Agwara Police Station, overpowered tactical teams, and used explosives to destroy the facility, leaving 26 persons dead and nearby police posts burnt.

n

The spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, insisted that security operations are ongoing in affected areas, but residents reported that the reality on the ground remains frightening.

n

A community leader in Borgu LGA told Saturday PUNCH that villagers now sleep in shifts, relying more on hunters and vigilantes than the police, as they no longer trust that help will come quickly during attacks.

n

In Kwara State, attacks on rural police formations and joint security posts have intensified fears of a deeper insurgency, with communities in Kaiama and Patigi LGAs now without security presence, making them vulnerable to attacks by armed groups operating around the Kainji National Park axis.

n

A community leader in Woro, Alhaji Ahmed Hassan, said security posts have become targets of attacks by terrorists, who first targeted security posts, forcing the Mobile Police in Woro to depart and leaving the communities exposed.

n

In Kaduna State, residents of Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Kajuru, and Chikun LGAs reported that repeated attacks have weakened police presence in many communities, with the youth leader of Awon community in Kachia LGA, Manasseh Andrew, stating that police left the village three years ago and are yet to return.

n

Andrew revealed that when issues arise with bandits, residents call the soldiers, who are 25 kilometers away, and that the lack of a strong network and the distance between them and the soldiers make it difficult for the community to access help.

n

A resident of Birnin Gwari, speaking on condition of anonymity, said communities increasingly depend on vigilance groups, as the police station is far away, and it can take hours for security personnel to arrive when attacks happen.

n

In Imo State, the security situation presents a mixed picture of recovery and lingering security gaps following years of attacks on police formations linked to insurgency and armed violence.