Niger under siege as terrorists kill 42, re-abduct missionary school pupils, others

At least 42 people, including women and children, have been killed in fresh terrorist attacks on communities in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, with villagers and some pupils and students of St Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri – who were only recently freed from captivity – reportedly among those abducted again.

The attackers struck Kasuwa Daji and Kaima communities on Saturday, unleashing coordinated violence that left markets razed, homes looted and entire villages thrown into mourning. Survivors said an unspecified number of residents were whisked away into the Kainji National Park, which has increasingly become a safe haven for armed groups operating in the axis.

A source familiar with the attacks said the terrorists killed 37 people in Kasuwa Daji near Papiri and another five in Kaima village, while abducting many others, including children and some of the missionary school students who had just regained their freedom.

“The situation is terrible. They crossed the River Rofia from Kebbi State and came straight into our communities,” the source said. “The government and security agencies must come to our rescue. Just on Saturday, they burnt a major market and abducted many people, including children.”

The latest massacre came barely five days after fleeing bandits from a military operation in neighbouring Kwara State invaded Gebe and Goro communities in the same local government area, killing two people, burning more than 15 houses and carting away valuables.

A week earlier, gunmen also attacked a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) checkpoint in Wawa community, Borgu Local Government Area, forcing personnel to flee and allowing the assailants to make away with arms and ammunition.

Residents say the terrorists have effectively occupied parts of Kainji National Park, from where they launch sustained assaults on surrounding communities.

Confirming the incident, the Director of Communications of the Catholic Church of Kontagora Diocese, Rev. Father Stephen Kabirat, said more than 40 people were killed and several others abducted during the attacks.

“Our parish priest narrowly escaped abduction when the terrorists stormed our mission house three days ago,” Kabirat said. “They destroyed religious items, stole two motorcycles and carted away cash of over ₦200,000. They were looking for the priest, but he escaped. Unfortunately, they abducted some villagers, including children.”

Another villager appealed to authorities for urgent intervention, revealing that fear has displaced many families. “Some of the villages where the abducted schoolchildren come from have been sleeping in the bushes since their return because of the persistent attacks,” he said.

The Niger State Police Command confirmed the attacks. The command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said police received reports around 9:00 p.m. on Saturday that suspected bandits had killed more than 30 people and abducted an unconfirmed number of residents.

“In a separate report at about 4:30 p.m., suspected bandits from the National Park forest along Kebe District invaded Kasuwan Daji, located at Demo Village via Kebe village,” Abiodun said in a statement. “They killed over 30 persons, burnt the market, looted shops and carted away food items.”

He added that a joint security team had visited the affected areas and that efforts were ongoing to rescue those abducted, assuring that further developments would be communicated.

Despite these assurances, residents say fear continues to grip the area, as communities remain vulnerable to repeated attacks from armed groups operating freely from the surrounding forests.