The Niger State Police Command has confirmed that four residents were killed and several shops set on fire after gunmen attacked a community in Borgu Local Government Area of the state.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday when armed men stormed Damala village in the Woko District, forcing residents to flee their homes in fear.
A community source disclosed that aside from the fatalities, an unspecified number of residents were also abducted during the raid.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the assailants also rustled cattle before escaping.
“Armed bandits invaded Damala village in the Woko District of Borgu LGA, where they killed four persons and made away with an undisclosed number of cattle,” Abiodun said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
He added that the attackers went further to destroy property in the community.
“During the attack, the gunmen set several shops ablaze before fleeing the area,” the police spokesperson stated.
According to him, security operatives swiftly mobilised to the community following distress calls.
“Security agencies responded promptly and visited the affected village. Clearance and confidence-building patrols are ongoing, while surveillance has been intensified to prevent further attacks,” Abiodun said.
He assured residents that efforts were ongoing to track down those responsible for the attack and restore calm to the area.
The latest incident comes days after a deadly assault on Kasuwan Daji Market in Demo village, also in Borgu Local Government Area, where more than 42 people were reportedly killed and others abducted.
Borgu and neighbouring Agwara Local Government Area have witnessed repeated attacks in recent months.
In a separate incident, 315 pupils, students and teachers of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Paipiri, Agwara LGA, were abducted and later released after spending about a month in captivity following federal intervention.
The police said security operations would continue across the affected areas to protect lives and property.
