No fewer than 30 people have been killed and several others abducted following a deadly attack by suspected terrorists on Kasuwan-Daji market in the Demo community of Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State.
The attack, which occurred on Saturday, saw gunmen storm the busy market, killing traders and residents, abducting many others, and looting foodstuffs and valuables worth millions of naira before setting the market on fire.
Residents said the attackers invaded the community on Saturday evening and operated unchallenged until the early hours of Sunday. One local source alleged that about 42 people were tied up and killed during the raid.
The terrorists were reported to have emerged from the nearby National Park in Borgu LGA and carried out the assault in broad daylight, causing panic and mass casualties.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed the incident on Sunday. In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police Wasiu Abiodun, said over 30 people lost their lives, while an unspecified number of victims were kidnapped.
“On 03/01/2026 at about 9:00 p.m., information was received that at about 4:30 p.m. of the same day, suspected bandits from the National Park forest along Kabe District invaded Kasuwan-Daji, located at Demo Village via Kabe,” Abiodun said.
“They burnt the market, looted shops, and carted away food items. On 04/01/2026 at about 8:00 a.m., a joint security team visited the scene and confirmed that over 30 victims lost their lives. Some persons were also kidnapped. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the kidnapped victims, and further developments will be communicated.”
Niger State has witnessed a surge in terrorist and bandit attacks in recent months. In November, more than 300 pupils and teachers were abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area.
During that incident, gunmen arrived on motorbikes around 2:00 a.m., stormed the school dormitories for several hours, and abducted 315 people, including 303 students and 12 teachers. While dozens of pupils escaped in the immediate aftermath, the Federal Government later confirmed the release of all the abducted victims.
Security agencies have intensified operations across affected areas as residents continue to call for stronger protection against recurring attacks in the state.
