Rita Odafe
Tragic Armed Robbery in Yobe State Market
In a shocking incident at the bustling Ngalda Monday Market in Fika Local Government Area, Yobe State, seven individuals lost their lives, and eleven others suffered injuries due to an armed robbery.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that a group of robbers, headed by Datti Alhaji Dadji, invaded the market on January 20, 2025. They opened fire indiscriminately, causing chaos as shoppers and sellers scrambled for safety. The attackers targeted Point of Sale shops and various stalls, stealing significant amounts of cash and valuable items.
This market is one of the largest in Yobe State, drawing numerous traders and customers from nearby regions. The brazen attack has left the local community in shock, prompting calls for enhanced security measures to safeguard the area and its visitors.
According to police spokesperson SP Dungus Abdulkarim, local residents sprang into action, eliminating three of the robbers during the chaos while the leader, Datti Alhaji Dadji, was later apprehended by authorities.
The police confirmed that the robbers escaped with an estimated sum of N16.5 million. SP Dungus provided further details, stating, “On January 20, 2025, around 9 PM, six armed robbers led by Datti Alhaji Dadji attacked several shops in Ngalda Market.”
The violent robbery resulted in seven deaths and eleven injuries, with the fleeing robbers taking off with a substantial amount of money. The community’s response was swift, as three robbers were killed and three others, injured, managed to escape.
Law enforcement officials, led by the Divisional Police Officer, conducted a raid at Datti Alhaji Dadji’s residence where a homemade firearm and ammunition were discovered. Datti is currently in police custody and is being interrogated as the investigation proceeds.
The victims’ bodies and those injured were sent to the General Hospital Fika for examination and treatment. The Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed, has called for a thorough investigation into the incident while urging the public to provide any useful information regarding the culprits still at large. He expressed condolences to the families of the victims, assuring that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
