Fear has gripped the Waje community in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State as residents flee to nearby Zuru town following a deadly attack by suspected bandits that claimed the lives of 15 farmers and left three others injured.

The Saturday attack has triggered a mass exodus from the community, with dozens of residents—primarily women and children—seeking refuge in Zuru as security concerns mount in the area.

"No one feels safe anymore. People are leaving because we don't know if the attackers will return," said Alhaji Musa Waje, who lost his younger brother in the attack.

The human toll of the violence was evident in the testimony of Aisha Bala, a now-displaced resident whose husband was killed during the assault. "We barely escaped with our lives. I can't sleep at night, and I don't want my children to grow up in fear," she recounted tearfully.

Residents are calling for increased security presence in the area, emphasizing that the community has become vulnerable to attacks due to inadequate protection. Malam Shuaibu Danbaba, who lost two family members in the assault, expressed the community's desperation: "We need help. We are not armed, and these people are killing us like animals. The government must protect us."

The geographical location of Waje, which shares borders with Zamfara, Sokoto, and Niger States—all hotspots for banditry—has contributed to its vulnerability. Residents point to porous boundaries as a significant factor in the recurring attacks that have plagued the region.

While government officials have reportedly visited the area and provided some relief materials, community members stress that without sustained security deployment, these efforts provide only temporary comfort amid persistent threats.

The attack on Waje adds to the growing list of security challenges in Nigeria's northwestern region, where armed groups have increasingly targeted rural communities, disrupting agricultural activities and forcing thousands to abandon their homes and livelihoods.