No fewer than 30 people have been confirmed dead following a violent attack by armed gunmen on Kasuwan-Daji community in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, according to the police.
The state police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed on Sunday that more than 30 residents were killed during the assault, while several others were abducted. He added that security agencies have launched efforts to rescue those taken away by the attackers.
The assailants reportedly stormed the community on Saturday evening, opening fire indiscriminately. They also set houses and the local market ablaze and carted away food items after looting shops.
However, residents claim the casualty figure may be higher than officially reported, estimating that over 40 people could have been killed. Many villagers, including children, are still unaccounted for after being taken during the attack.
The gunmen are also suspected to have carried out earlier raids beginning on Friday in neighbouring Agwarra and Borgu communities.
One of the survivors, Dauda Shakulle, who sustained injuries while trying to escape, said women and children were among the victims. He lamented the absence of security personnel since the attacks started, noting that residents were left to recover the bodies of the dead on their own.
Nigeria has continued to battle widespread kidnapping and banditry, particularly in the north-west and north-central regions, where armed groups routinely raid rural communities and abduct residents for ransom.
Saturday’s attack occurred close to Papiri community, where over 300 students and teachers were abducted from a Catholic school in November.
The worsening security situation has seen a surge in abductions in recent months, leading to the resignation of Defence Minister Badaru Abubakar in early December.
At the same time, Nigeria’s north-east remains troubled by an ongoing Islamist insurgency, with militant groups also engaging in kidnappings and violent attacks.
