Armed bandits have unleashed a wave of terror in Niger State, killing more than thirty people and kidnapping numerous residents, including schoolchildren. The coordinated assaults targeted communities within the Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas over the past week.
Details of the Deadly Assaults
According to local sources, the attackers faced little resistance from security forces as they carried out their operations. The violence was particularly severe in the area of Kasuwa Daji near Papiri, where many individuals were killed. In Kaima Village, five people lost their lives.
The bandits' campaign of fear extended to abductions, with victims including pupils from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri. The crisis has forced residents to call for immediate government action, especially for those taken across the river.
Church Official Confirms Escalating Toll
The Director of Communications for the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Rev. Father Stephen Kabirat, provided a grim account. He confirmed that the death toll has exceeded forty, with many others taken captive.
Father Stephen recounted a narrow escape by a Parish Priest when bandits raided the Mission House. The assailants destroyed religious items, stole two motorcycles, and looted over Two Hundred Thousand Naira. "The bandits sought the priest, but he managed to escape," he stated, adding that villagers, including children, were not as fortunate.
Police Response and Ongoing Rescue Efforts
The Niger State Police Command has verified the attacks. Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, stated that suspected bandits from the National Park Forest along Kabe District struck around 9pm on Saturday, 3rd January 2026.
He detailed that the attackers targeted Kasuwan Daji at Demo Village via Kabe, where they burned down a market, looted shops, and stole food supplies. A joint security team has visited the scene, and efforts to rescue the abducted are currently ongoing.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation is dire. A villager's appeal highlighted the desperation, revealing that some communities have been forced to flee into the bushes for safety, living under constant threat from the marauders who emerged from the forest a week ago.
