Fresh terror assaults on Saturday rocked communities in Agwarra and Borgu Local Government Areas of Niger State, leaving at least 42 people dead and dozens more — including children and students previously freed — abducted in a brutal onslaught that has intensified fears across the region.
On Sunday, January 4, 2026, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned the attacks and ordered that the perpetrators be tracked down and brought to justice. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President directed the Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, Inspector-General of Police, and DSS Director-General to urgently rescue the abducted victims and intensify operations around vulnerable communities.
President Tinubu described the terrorists’ actions as a direct test of Nigeria’s resolve, declaring: “They, and all those who aid, abet, or enable them in any form, will be caught and brought to justice.” He further urged Nigerians to remain united and avoid divisive rhetoric that could undermine national cohesion in this challenging period.
The coordinated attacks occurred on Saturday afternoon and evening, when heavily armed assailants — described by residents as terrorists and bandits — stormed several villages, including Kasuwan Daji near Papiri and Kaima village. The gunmen opened fire on civilians, set the Kasuwan Daji market ablaze, looted shops and foodstuff, and forced terrified residents to flee into the bush.
According to multiple eyewitness accounts, 37 people were killed in Kasuwan Daji, while another five lost their lives in Kaima, bringing the death toll to no fewer than 42. Uncertainty remains over the full toll as some bodies have yet to be recovered. Blueprint
The assailants reportedly used dense forest corridors near Kainji Lake National Park and the River Rofia/Kabe route — paths frequently exploited for cross-border raids into vulnerable communities.
In a development that has shocked the nation, residents confirmed that among those taken hostage were some children and students from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri — many of whom had only recently been freed after last year’s massive abduction of over 300 pupils and staff.
A local source told reporters the attackers “abducted many people, including children and students who had earlier been freed.” Blueprint
This latest abduction comes after a wave of insecurity triggered by previous mass kidnappings in the area — including the November 21, 2025 Papiri school raid, where gunmen kidnapped hundreds of students and teachers. Many of those captives were subsequently released after intervention by security forces and negotiations.
Residents described scenes of terror and mass displacement. One villager said families were now sleeping in the bushes, too afraid to return to their homes, while others fled deeper into forested areas to evade further attacks.
Religious leaders also lamented the violence. Reverend Father Stephen Kabirat, Director of Communications for the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, confirmed the attacks and reported extensive damage to church property in the area. He said the parish priest had narrowly escaped abduction when the terrorists visited the mission house days earlier, destroying religious items, stealing two motorcycles and taking over ₦200,000 in cash.
The Niger State Police Command, through spokesman SP Wasiu Abiodun, acknowledged the attacks, reporting that security operatives have been deployed and joint teams are combing the affected areas to secure the release of abductees and restore order. He said the bandits came from forest enclaves, burned marketplaces, and looted shops.
Despite claims of deployment, many residents said security presence remains scant, allowing the attackers to operate with impunity for days before the recent assault.
The latest attacks underscore a persistent security crisis in northern Nigeria, where remote communities remain vulnerable to banditry, terrorism, and kidnappings. Analysts warn that without sustained and coordinated action by government and security agencies, such violent incursions could escalate further, threatening lives, livelihoods, and the education of children in affected states.
