Gunmen have murdered at least 42 people and kidnapped scores including schoolchildren, in Agwarra and Borgu Local Government Areas of Niger State.
Local said the attacks had been going on for over a week with little resistance as security operatives were not on ground to confront them.
An anonymous local revealed that “they tied the hands of 37 people from behind and slaughtered them in Kasuwa Daji near Papiri, while another five were killed in Kaima village.
According to the local, “they also abducted many people, including children, some of whom are pupils and students of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Agwarra Local Government Area.
“The government and security agencies should come to our aid. We are facing a serious crisis across the river where these students were taken from.”
A local market was raised down on Saturday, by the invaders who looted shops and food items, while kidnapping villagers including children.
The spokesperson of the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Rev. Father Stephen Kabirat, confirmed the attacks, saying church property were looted during the invasion.
“Our parish priest narrowly escaped abduction when the attackers came to the mission house three days ago,” Kabirat said.
“They vandalised parts of the church, took away two motorcycles and over ₦200,000 cash, and abducted some villagers, including children.”
The spokesperson of Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the command received reports of a deadly bandit invasion on Saturday night.
He said “at about 9:00 pm, the police received information that suspected bandits attacked communities in Borgu LGA, killing over 30 persons and abducting an unconfirmed number of people.”
According to Abiodun, at about 4:30 pm, gunmen from the National Park Forest along Kabe District stormed Kasuwan Daji in Demo village, where they killed residents, burned the market, and looted shops.
He said a joint security team had visited the affected areas, adding that efforts were ongoing to rescue abducted victims and restore calm.
Abiodun said “further developments will be communicated.”
