Over 30 feared dead, many abducted as bandits attack Niger community, burn market

No fewer than 30 people are feared dead, while several others have been abducted, following a deadly attack by armed men suspected to be bandits in Niger State.

The attackers, believed to be operating from the Kainji Lake National Park, reportedly stormed a village market in Kabe District, Borgu Local Government Area, where they unleashed violence on residents and traders.

Eyewitness accounts said the assailants set the market ablaze, destroying stalls and goods, while looting food items and other wares. The attack threw the community into chaos as villagers attempted to flee for safety.

Sources further disclosed that the gunmen opened fire on residents and abducted several people, particularly along footpaths leading into the vast forest areas surrounding the Kainji Lake National Park, which has increasingly been linked to bandit hideouts.

Confirming the incident, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, said security agencies had swung into action following the attack.

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“Over 30 victims lost their lives during the attack, and some persons were also kidnapped,” Abiodun stated.

He added that a joint security team had visited the affected community to assess the situation, while efforts were ongoing to track the attackers and rescue the kidnapped victims.

The attack has heightened fears among residents of Borgu Local Government Area, where repeated assaults linked to armed groups have disrupted farming, trading, and daily life.

Community members are calling on the state and federal governments to intensify security operations around the Kainji Lake axis to prevent further violence.

The incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity in parts of Niger State and the wider North-Central region, as authorities continue to battle banditry, kidnappings, and attacks on rural communities.