Residents of Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State have once again been thrown into fear following a fresh bandit attack that saw a police station and a church set ablaze, with at least five villagers abducted in the early hours of Sunday.
The assailants reportedly stormed the community before dawn, overrunning the Agwara Divisional Police Station and later torching part of the United Methodist Church. The latest attack comes barely a few months after the same axis gained national attention following the abduction of about 300 pupils, students, and teachers of St. Mary’s Catholic School in nearby Papiri.
Confirming the incident, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the bandits invaded the police station at about 3:40 a.m. According to him, operatives from a tactical unit engaged the attackers but were eventually overwhelmed by their superior numbers and firepower.
SP Abiodun disclosed that the bandits allegedly used explosives, suspected to be dynamite, to set the police facility on fire before moving to the church, where part of the building was also burnt. He added that the attackers later dispersed into the community, abducting about five residents whose identities were yet to be confirmed.
An eyewitness recounted that the bandits arrived around 2 a.m., parked their motorcycles several kilometres away, and trekked into the town. He said they first attacked the police station, forcing the officers on duty to flee, before setting the building ablaze. The attackers were said to have moved from house to house, looting food items and valuables before proceeding to the church.
At the time of the attack, a monthly vigil was reportedly ongoing at the church. However, worshippers fled after receiving information about the impending attack.
Confirming the incident, Reverend Yakubu Yohanna said no lives were lost as church members escaped into hiding before the bandits arrived. “They came to the town and also visited our church. They didn’t meet anyone, but they burnt the building and everything inside,” he said, adding that members were still assessing the extent of the damage.
Police authorities said security agencies are monitoring the situation closely and promised to provide further updates as investigations continue.
Agwara and surrounding communities have suffered repeated bandit attacks in recent years, including mass abductions, arson, and looting—highlighting the persistent insecurity facing rural areas of Niger State.
