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By Lizzy Chirkpi
No fewer than 30 people, including women, were killed on Saturday when suspected bandits launched a deadly attack on Kasuwan Daji in the Demo community of Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State.
During the assault, the attackers reportedly looted foodstuffs and other valuables worth millions of naira before setting the popular market ablaze, leaving it completely destroyed.
Residents said the gunmen stormed the community at about 4:00 pm on Saturday and operated unhindered until the early hours of Sunday. According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants arrived in large numbers, firing indiscriminately and tying up several victims.
An eyewitness said more than 50 people were restrained and over 30 killed during the attack, while many others were abducted and taken away by the gunmen.
Narrating his ordeal, Mr Dauda Shakulle who was wounded said, “They rode motorcycles and opened fire indiscriminately. Women and children were not spared”.
He continued, “There has been no presence of security forces since the attacks began. We are currently recovering corpses.”
The bandits were said to have emerged from a nearby National Park in Borgu LGA, carrying out the attack in broad daylight. Several traders and residents remain unaccounted for, fuelling fears that the number of abducted persons could be higher than initially reported.
Confirming the incident on Sunday to journalists, the spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said over 30 people lost their lives, while several others were kidnapped.
He explained that security operatives received information around 9:00 pm on January 3 that suspected bandits from the National Park forest along Kabe District had invaded Kasuwan Daji, burnt the market, looted shops and carted away food items.
“Over 30 victims lost their lives during the attack; some persons were also kidnapped,” Wasiu Abiodun, Niger police spokesman, said in a statement on Sunday.
“On 03/01/2026 at about 9 p.m., information received revealed that at about 4:30 p.m. of the same date, suspected bandits from the National Park forest along Kabe District invaded Kasuwan Daji, located at Demo village via Kabe, burnt the market, looted shops, and carted away food items,” Abiodun, a Superintendent of Police, said.
“On 04/01/2026 at about 8 a.m., a report indicated that a joint security team visited the scene, and over 30 victims lost their lives during the attack.
“Some persons were also kidnapped. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the kidnapped victims. Further developments will be communicated.”
According to him, a joint security team visited the area the following on Sunday morning and confirmed the number of casualties. He added that efforts were ongoing to rescue the kidnapped victims, assuring that the police would provide further updates as investigations and operations continue.