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New Delhi: At least 30 people were killed and several others abducted after heavily armed attackers stormed a remote village in northern Nigeria’s Niger state, according to police, in yet another deadly incident underscoring the region’s deepening insecurity.
The assault took place on Saturday evening in Kasuwan-Daji village, located in Borgu local government area. Police said the gunmen arrived in large numbers, opened fire on residents without warning, and went on to burn down the village market along with several homes, leaving extensive damage behind.
Niger state police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said security forces had been dispatched to the area to search for those taken hostage and stabilise the situation. However, villagers contested this account, claiming that no security personnel had reached the community even a day after the attack.
While authorities confirmed at least 30 fatalities, residents said the death toll was higher. Two villagers put the number of those killed at around 37, adding that several people were still missing and feared dead. Those abducted reportedly included women and children.
The Catholic Church also indicated a higher casualty figure. Reverend Father Stephen Kabirat, spokesperson for the Kontagora Diocese, told local media that more than 40 people were killed during the raid, with many others kidnapped.
Residents said the attackers had been spotted in neighbouring communities for nearly a week before the incident, raising concerns over the absence of preventive security measures. Survivors said fear of another assault has prevented them from returning to the village to recover bodies, with the attack reportedly lasting close to three hours.
Violent raids by armed criminal gangs have become frequent across Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where state presence is weak. These groups routinely carry out mass killings, kidnappings for ransom and arson, taking advantage of poor security infrastructure.
Saturday’s attack occurred near Papiri community, where more than 300 schoolchildren and teachers were abducted from a Catholic school in November, highlighting the continuing threat in the region.
Police believe the attackers may have emerged from the National Park Forest in the Kabe district. Authorities have repeatedly warned that vast, ungoverned forest reserves in the area have turned into safe havens for armed groups, allowing them to strike communities and evade security forces.
