At least 30 people have been killed and several others abducted following a deadly bandit attack on a village market in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to The PUNCH, the attack occurred on Saturday at Kasuwan Daji market in Demo village, within the Kabe District.
Armed men, suspected to be bandits operating from the Kainji Lake National Park axis, reportedly stormed the market, set it on fire, and opened fire on traders and residents.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the attackers arrived through routes linked to Kabe and carried out the assault for several hours.
Food items and other goods were looted, while many villagers were forced to flee into surrounding bushes. Several victims were reportedly taken away along paths leading into the vast Kainji Lake National Park forest.
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, said security agencies had responded to the attack and were working to rescue those abducted.
“Over 30 victims lost their lives during the attack, and some persons were also kidnapped,” Abiodun said. He added that a joint team of security operatives had visited the affected community and that efforts were ongoing to track the attackers and secure the release of the victims.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities said investigations were continuing, while residents have called for increased security presence in communities around the Kainji Lake National Park, which has repeatedly been linked to bandit activities.
More details are expected as the situation develops.
