At least 42 people have been killed by terrorists in attacks on communities in the Agwarra and Borgu LGAs, Niger state.
Multiple sources told The Times of Abuja that a yet-to-be-ascertained number of people, including children, were also abducted by the bandits during the attack.
According to the sources, terrorists have been attacking villages in Agwarra LGA over the past week without any opposition.
“They killed 37 people in Kasuwa Daji near Papiri, another five in Kaima village and abducted many people, including children, and some of these children are pupils and students of the same St Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri in Agwarra,” one of the sources said.
“The government and security agencies should come to our aid; we have a serious crisis across the river where the students were abducted.
“They have come out of the forest for about a week now, wreaking havoc in the villages. Just yesterday (Saturday) alone, they burned one particular market and abducted so many people, including children.”
Also, confirming the attack, Stephen Kabirat, the director of communications for the Catholic Church of the Kontagora diocese, said the terrorists have killed over 40 persons and taken some persons into captivity.
“Our parish priest narrowly escaped abduction when the terrorists visited our mission house three days ago. They destroyed some religious items in the church and carted away two motorbikes and cash worth over N200,000,” Kabirat said.
“They were looking for the priest, but luckily he escaped, but they abducted some villagers, including children.”
Another villager, while appealing to the relevant authorities for intervention, said many residents have been sleeping in the bush for fear of bandits’ attacks.
Wasiu Abiodun, police spokesperson in Niger state, confirmed the attacks.
In a statement on Sunday, the police spokesperson said the command received reports at about 9pm on Saturday that suspected bandits attacked and killed over 30 persons and abducted an unconfirmed number of persons.
“At about 4:30pm on Saturday, suspected bandits from the National Park Forest along Kabe District invaded Kasuwan Daji, located at Demo Village via Kabe, killed over 30 persons, burnt the market and looted shops, and carted away food items,” the statement reads.
Abiodun said a joint security team has visited the scene, and efforts are ongoing to rescue the victims.
