Terrorists have attacked communities in the Agwarra and Borgu local government areas of Niger State, killing no fewer than 42 persons and abducting an unconfirmed number of people, including children. According to a reliable source, the terrorists have been attacking villages in Agwarra for the past week without any opposition. “They came angrily and attacked communities at freewill and because there is no security presence here,” the source said.
The source detailed the casualties, stating, “they killed 37 people in Kasuwa Daji near Papiri, another 5 in Kaima village and abducted many people including children and some of these children are pupils and students of the same St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary schools, Papiri in Agwarra.” The source issued a plea, saying, “The government and security agencies should come to our aid, we have serious crisis across the river where the students were abducted.”
The attacks continued through Saturday. “They came out of the forest for about a week now, wrecking havoc in the villages. Just yesterday (Saturday) alone they burnt one particular market and abducted so many people, including children,” the source added.
The Director of Communications for the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Rev. Father Stephen Kabirat, confirmed the attacks on a Catholic mission house. “Our Parish Priest narrowly escaped abduction when the terrorists visited our Mission House three days ago, they destroyed some religious items in the church, carted away two motorbikes and cash worth over two hundred thousand Naira,” Kabirat said. He confirmed the terrorists “have killed over forty persons and taken into captivity some persons,” adding, “They were looking for the Priest but luckily he escaped but they abducted some villagers including children.”
Another villager highlighted the ongoing fear, stating, “as I am talking to you, some of the villages where the abducted school children come from have been sleeping in the bushes since their return because of activities of the terrorists.”
The Niger State Police Command confirmed the attacks, stating it received reports at about 9pm on Saturday that suspected bandits killed over 30 persons and abducted an unconfirmed number. Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, provided details in a statement: “at about 4:30pm on Saturday, suspected Bandits from the National Park Forest along Kabe District invaded Kasuwan Daji located at Demo Village via Kabe, killed over 30 persons, burnt the market and looted shops and carted away food items.”
Abiodun further disclosed that a joint security team has visited the scene and efforts are ongoing to rescue the victims. “Further development will be communicated please,” he said.
