Suspected terrorists attacked the village of Palaita in Niger State’s Shiroro Local Government Area (LGA), killing one person and abducting nine others. The attack occurred Sunday evening near a military base in Erena, a garrison town that shelters hundreds of displaced persons.
Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants arrived on motorcycles after attacking several villages along the route to Palaita. As they raided the village, residents fled to Erena, while soldiers confronted the attackers. The terrorists abducted five men and four women before retreating.
Widespread Raids Before the Attack
A resident of Erena, Hannatu Kabiru, who sheltered some of the displaced villagers, recounted that the attackers had earlier stormed Kutako, Dnakpala, and Gogala villages. “They gathered people from those villages and beat them mercilessly,” she said. “They only started shooting when they got to Palaita, where they killed one person and kidnapped others.”
The assailants also looted livestock, stealing cattle, sheep, and goats, according to multiple accounts from local residents and displaced persons.
Rising Insecurity in Niger State
The attack came just days after terrorists kidnapped six teenage girls, aged 15 to 17, in Pandogari, Rafi LGA. Residents say their communities have faced a surge in attacks since the Kaduna State Government entered into a peace deal with armed groups.
Panic in Erena
Erena, once overrun by terrorists in 2020, is now under military and vigilante protection. It serves as a refuge for displaced persons from Allawa, Basa, Kurebe, and nearby villages. However, Sunday’s attack sent shock waves through the town, with many residents hastily packing their belongings, fearing another displacement.
“We thought the military base was under attack,” said Yahuza Agumi, a displaced resident from Allawa. He recalled how terrorists had taken over his hometown last February, planting landmines that killed both civilians and soldiers, ultimately forcing the military to withdraw.
As gunshots rang out on Sunday, many feared the worst. “We heard the gunshots, and it seemed like they had arrived in town,” Agumi said. “But the soldiers told us not to panic.”
Another resident, Ibrahim Muhammed, said he saw people jumping into a pick-up truck, preparing to flee. “But everything was brought under control,” he added.
According to sources, the terrorists fled under military fire, though none were reported killed or captured.
