President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commanded a nationwide security crackdown following a series of brutal attacks in Niger State, as the death toll from the violence continues to climb. The President's directive targets terrorists responsible for the coordinated raids that left dozens dead and many more abducted in remote communities.
Presidential Directive and Condemnation
In a strong statement issued on Sunday, President Tinubu instructed the nation's top security chiefs to launch an intensified manhunt. He specifically ordered the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, all Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to find those behind the assault on Kasuwan Daji and surrounding villages.
"These terrorists have tested the resolve of our country and its people. They must face the full consequences of their criminal actions," President Tinubu declared. He vowed that no matter their identity or intent, the perpetrators would be hunted down. The President also warned that accomplices and enablers would face justice.
Tinubu further ordered the immediate rescue of all abducted victims and directed a significant escalation of security operations around vulnerable communities, especially those bordering forested areas. He called for national unity, stating, "United, we can and must defeat them and deny them any sanctuary. We must reclaim peace for these attacked communities."
Scale of Violence and Local Accounts
The attacks, which local sources say persisted for over a week, exploited a perceived weak security presence in remote areas. The assault centered on Kasuwan Daji near Papiri and Kaima village, with armed bandits suspected to have emerged from forest enclaves.
On Saturday, January 3, 2026, assailants burned down a market, looted shops, and stole food supplies. Preliminary reports indicate more than 30 people were killed in Kasuwan Daji, with five confirmed dead in Kaima. Dozens were abducted, including pupils from St Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, who were taken across a river into forest hideouts.
The violence has caused widespread displacement, with many villagers fleeing into nearby bushes for safety amid fears of further raids.
Church Confirmation and Police Response
Reverend Father Stephen Kabirat, Director of Communications for the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, provided a harrowing account, confirming the death toll had exceeded 40 people, with many others taken captive. He revealed that bandits stormed a mission house, destroyed religious items, stole two motorcycles and over ₦200,000 in cash. The parish priest narrowly avoided abduction.
"They were looking for the priest, but he managed to escape. They abducted villagers, including children," Father Kabirat stated.
The Niger State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attack occurred around 9pm on Saturday. He stated that suspected bandits from the National Park Forest along Kabe District invaded Kasuwan Daji at Demo Village via Kabe. A joint security team has visited the affected communities, and rescue operations are ongoing.
Residents and community leaders are now urgently calling for sustained federal intervention, warning that without a stronger, permanent security presence, more villages remain at grave risk.
