Suspected bandits have launched a series of coordinated attacks on communities in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
They killed at least 42 people and abducting several others, including women and schoolchildren.
The attacks, which reportedly spanned more than one week, affected multiple villages in Agwara and parts of neighbouring Borgu Local Government Area.
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Residents said the assailants operated with little resistance, allegedly due to the absence of security personnel in the affected communities.
A reliable source disclosed that no fewer than 37 people were killed in Kasuwan Daji near Papiri, while five others lost their lives in Kaima village.
The source added that many residents were abducted during the raids, including pupils and students of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri.
The source appealed to the government and security agencies for urgent intervention, describing the situation as a growing humanitarian crisis.
Confirming the incident, the Director of Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Reverend Father Stephen Kabirat, said the attackers also invaded a Catholic mission house in the area, killing several villagers and abducting others.
According to him, the parish priest narrowly escaped abduction when the gunmen stormed the mission house three days ago.
He added that religious items were vandalised, two motorcycles were stolen, and cash estimated at over ₦200,000 was carted away.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said many parents whose children were abducted have been sleeping in nearby bushes for fear of further attacks.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command has confirmed the attack.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the command received a distress call at about 9:00pm on Saturday.
He said suspected bandits invaded Kasuwan Daji at about 4:30pm from the National Park forest axis, killing over 30 people, burning the market, looting shops, and abducting several residents.
According to the police, a joint security team has since visited the affected communities, while efforts are ongoing to rescue the abducted victims and restore normalcy.
