Panic has gripped communities in Niger State following a fresh, deadly assault by armed bandits, resulting in multiple fatalities and significant destruction of property.
Details of the Damala Village Attack
In the early hours of Saturday, January 13, 2026, gunmen stormed Damala village located in the Woko District of Borgu Local Government Area. The Niger State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed that the attackers killed four residents during the invasion.
The assailants also rustled an unspecified number of cattle and set several shops in the community ablaze before fleeing the scene. A community source revealed to journalists that an undisclosed number of villagers were abducted in the raid, forcing residents to flee in different directions for safety.
Police Response and Security Intensification
Police spokesperson Abiodun stated that security operatives responded swiftly to the incident and have since visited the affected area. He assured the public that clearance operations are currently ongoing.
Security monitoring has been intensified in the communities to prevent further attacks and ensure the safety of residents. Abiodun emphasized that efforts are being sustained to track down, apprehend the perpetrators, and restore normalcy to the area.
A Pattern of Violence in Niger State
This latest attack occurs just days after a far deadlier raid on Kasuwan Daji Market in Demo village, also within Borgu LGA. In that previous incident, bandits reportedly killed over 42 people and abducted several others.
The Borgu and neighbouring Agwara local government areas have witnessed a alarming surge in bandit activities. In a major incident that captured national attention, terrorists abducted 315 pupils, students, and teachers from St Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Paipiri community, Agwara LGA. Although the victims were released after about one month following Federal Government intervention, widespread fear persists as attacks continue unabated across the region.
The continuous violence raises serious concerns about the security situation in parts of Niger State and the effectiveness of current measures to protect vulnerable communities from such coordinated attacks.
