By Peter Omopo
Residents of several communities in Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas of Niger State have begun fleeing their homes amid fears of renewed attacks, following reports that terrorists responsible for last weekend’s massacre have issued fresh threats.
Villagers told journalists that the assailants warned they would continue the killings after Saturday’s attack at Kasuwan Daji, where more than 40 people were reportedly killed. The threats have triggered panic and displacement across border communities linking Agwara, Borgu and parts of Kebbi State.
Residents also alleged that soldiers deployed to the affected areas withdrew shortly after their arrival, leaving communities without a visible security presence. Villagers from Kwana, the last settlement in Agwara LGA, and Tungan Salama near Papiri in Borgu LGA said they had received credible information that the attackers were planning to strike again.
Kasuwan Daji, a border village between Agwara and Borgu LGAs, was the epicentre of Saturday’s attack. The community, known for its weekly Wednesday market, was reportedly razed as gunmen allegedly tied the hands of their victims, killed at least 42 men, and set houses and market stalls ablaze.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity appealed to the Federal and Niger State governments to urgently deploy a strong and sustained military presence to the area, warning that continued insecurity could lead to mass casualties and permanent displacement.
Confirming the deteriorating situation, the Director of Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Rev. Fr. Matthew Kabirat, said parishioners and priests were relocating from the affected axis due to fear of further attacks.
According to him, security personnel deployed after the incident were no longer visible, leaving communities exposed. He said the terrorists had operated freely across several villages, attacking both Christian and Muslim communities, kidnapping women and children, and setting homes and facilities on fire.
Kabirat traced the attacks to December 28, 2025, when heavily armed men on about 30 motorcycles reportedly emerged from the Borgu Game Reserve, moving through Kanu Hills and several villages in Niger State before crossing into Kebbi State, where more people were killed and properties destroyed.
He added that the attackers vandalised a police station in Shafaci village, attacked a Catholic mission in Sokonbora, destroyed religious items, stole motorcycles, phones and cash, and later occupied Kambari settlements, where they allegedly looted food and livestock.
Another resident, identified as Abuka, said communities such as Papiri, Kwana and Tungan Salama were living in constant fear, noting that the continued movement of the terrorists without resistance had further traumatised residents, including schoolchildren recently released from captivity.
He said many families were abandoning their homes and hiding in the bush, fearing fresh attacks or abduction.
Efforts to reach the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, were unsuccessful. However, the Niger State Commissioner for Information, Obed Nana, confirmed the attacks and urged residents to remain calm.
Nana said the terrorists also invaded communities in parts of Rijau and Agwara LGAs, attacked a police outpost in Shafaci and a Catholic missionary school in Sukumbara village, destroying property and stealing motorcycles, though no casualties were recorded in those incidents. He said the state government was working with federal authorities and security agencies to prevent further attacks.
The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the killing of more than 40 people and the abduction of several others, adding that security operatives have been deployed to rescue the abducted victims.
President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, ordered a manhunt for those responsible for the attack. In a statement personally signed by him, the President directed the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to track down the perpetrators and ensure they are brought to justice.
“These terrorists have tested the resolve of our country and its people. They must face the full consequences of their criminal actions,” Tinubu said.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, condemned the attack, describing it as a grim reminder of Nigeria’s worsening security challenges. In a statement issued in Abuja, she described the killings as heartbreaking and senseless, extended condolences to the affected families and communities, and urged security agencies to act swiftly and decisively to apprehend those responsible.
She also warned that the destruction of markets and abductions not only claim lives but cripple local economies and livelihoods, calling for a more proactive and intelligence-driven security approach, particularly in rural and vulnerable communities.
