Bandits slaughter 42, abduct many in grisly attack on Borgu communities
At least 42 people have been killed and an unspecified number of residents abducted following a brutal attack by suspected bandits on villages in Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State, security sources and local officials have confirmed.
The raid, which took place in the early hours of Saturday, saw heavily armed gunmen storm farming settlements along the Niger Republic border, firing indiscriminately and burning homes. Survivors said the assailants moved from compound to compound, shooting men, women and children before loading some of the victims into vehicles and motorcycles.
Local vigilante leader Alhaji Ibrahim Bako described the assault as one of the deadliest in recent years, saying the bandits slaughtered residents in cold blood and carried away scores of others into the forest. “They came without warning, killing and burning. Many were taken captive,” Bako said.
The Niger State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attack and the high death toll, adding that operations are ongoing to rescue the abducted victims and apprehend the perpetrators. “We mourn the loss of innocent lives and condemn this barbaric act. Security forces have been mobilised to pursue the criminals,” DSP Abiodun said.
Officials from the Niger State Government, including Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, have condemned the massacre and pledged state support for victims’ families. Governor Bago called for urgent reinforcement of military and police patrols in border communities to halt further incursions.
The attack underscores persistent insecurity challenges facing rural communities in the state, especially those close to ungoverned forest corridors that serve as hideouts for criminal gangs.
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As of now, the exact number of abducted residents remains unclear, but eyewitnesses estimated that dozens were taken during the onslaught. Security forces are reported to be coordinating search and rescue missions in affected areas.
The Niger State Government has urged residents to remain vigilant and provide information that could assist in the recovery of abducted persons and the apprehension of the attackers.
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