In a shocking wave of violence in Niger State, suspected bandits launched a brutal assault on the Kasuwan-Daji area of Borgu Local Government, leaving more than 30 villagers feared dead and countless others abducted during a Saturday attack.
The assailants, believed to be operating from hideouts near the Kainji Lake National Park, stormed the local market and surrounding streets, firing indiscriminately, torching the marketplace and looting goods before disappearing into nearby forests.
According to residents and police, the gunmen arrived on motorcycles and created chaos as families fled for safety. In the wake of the violence, numerous traders and villagers were taken hostage, with some eyewitnesses reporting that groups, including women and children, were forced toward forest paths. Rescue efforts are reportedly underway as security teams have visited the site to search for the abducted and stabilize the area.
The attack has compounded growing fears across rural Niger State, where communities have been repeatedly targeted by armed groups, disrupting farming, trade, and everyday life. Local authorities say they are working to locate the kidnapped villagers and bring the perpetrators to justice, even as families and neighbours grapple with shock and grief over the deadly raid.
