Local vigilantes in Katsina “inadvertently” opened fire on a convoy of four gun trucks and a Toyota SUV carrying Nigerien military officers.
The soldiers had entered Mazanya village, Jibia LGA, in Katsina on Saturday at about 2:00pm to fetch water, when the incident occurred.
The large convoy, which was on “a routine cross-border activity”, raised suspicion from community residents and vigilance groups.
The vigilantes, mistaking the uniformed Nigerien troops for bandits, reportedly opened fire, triggering a brief exchange.
Advertisement
In a statement on Monday, Michael Onoja, the director of defence media operations at the Defence Headquarters, said the Nigerian security authorities and the Nigerien commander on the ground resolved the misunderstanding.
He said the Nigerien troops were eventually allowed to complete their water-fetching mission and return to their side of the border.
“The DHQ wishes to officially address and clarify the circumstances surrounding the border incident involving Nigerian local vigilante elements and Nigerien troops at Mazanya village in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State on November 29, 2025, at approximately 1500 hours,” he said.
Advertisement
“This statement aims to correct misinformation, reassure the public, and highlight ongoing efforts to strengthen cross-border coordination with the Republic of Niger in order to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
“A convoy consisting of four gun trucks and one Toyota Jeep carrying Nigerien military officers and soldiers entered Mazanya community to fetch water — a routine activity historically conducted by troops from the Niger Republic.”
Onoja added that the DHQ convened a joint border security meeting on December 1 to strengthen liaison arrangements between both countries.
“Nigeria and Niger share long-standing cultural, economic, and security ties, and both nations continue to collaborate closely in addressing common challenges such as terrorism, smuggling, illegal migration, and other transborder threats,” he said.
Advertisement
“The DHQ assures the public that lessons drawn from the incident are being taken seriously and that concrete measures are already underway to ensure such misunderstandings do not recur.
“Residents of Mazanya, Jibia LGA, and other border communities are urged to remain calm but vigilant while going about their lawful activities.”
