A wave of terror has once again struck Niger State, as gunmen launched a devastating assault on a community in Agwarra Local Government Area. The attackers, described by local survivors as “bandits” operating from nearby forest reserves, reportedly killed at least one person and left a trail of destruction, including the burning of a local church and a divisional police station.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the region, following a series of violent raids in early January that claimed over 50 lives across the Borgu and Agwarra axes. Eyewitnesses report that the assailants moved through the community with little resistance, targeting symbols of authority and faith. The destruction of the police station has particularly heightened fears, as it leaves the remote area even more vulnerable to future incursions.
While security forces have reportedly been deployed to restore order, the recurring nature of these attacks has led to a mass exodus of residents fleeing to safer zones. The local Christian and Muslim communities, often hit indiscriminately, are calling for more than just condemnations; they are demanding a permanent military presence to dismantle the hideouts within the Kainji National Park forest.
