Bandits Kill Six, Burn Police Station in Fresh Niger Attacks

Bandits Kill Six, Burn Police Station in Fresh Niger Attacks

At least six people have been killed and a police station razed following coordinated attacks by suspected bandits on rural communities in Niger State, intensifying fears over growing insecurity in the area.

The attacks began late on Friday night and continued into the early hours of Saturday, targeting Tungan-Makeri and Konkoso communities in Borgu Local Government Area. Residents said the attackers arrived in large numbers, shooting indiscriminately, setting houses on fire, and forcing villagers to flee in panic to neighbouring settlements and surrounding bushes.

An eyewitness from Zagatina village, located along the route reportedly used by the attackers, described the operation as highly coordinated, with dozens of motorcycles transporting the gunmen.

“I counted about 41 motorcycles, each carrying two or three people. Some even had women and children with them. When I realised they were approaching, I hid in the bush as they passed behind my house,” the resident said.

By the time the attackers withdrew from Tungan-Makeri, six residents had reportedly lost their lives, several homes were destroyed, and many families displaced. Some villagers were also declared missing, raising fears of possible abductions during the raid.

The assailants were said to have moved on to Konkoso in the early hours of Saturday, where they allegedly set a police station on fire, destroying official property and escalating tension in the area. Residents described the attack as brazen and prolonged, noting the absence of visible security personnel throughout the hours-long operation.

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Some villagers later reported sighting an aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force hovering over Tungan-Makeri after the initial assault, suggesting that aerial surveillance may have contributed to the eventual withdrawal of the attackers.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, said the command received reports that suspected bandits invaded Tungan-Makeri at about 3:00 a.m., entering through the Shafachi axis of Borgu LGA.

He confirmed that six persons were killed, several houses were burnt, and an unspecified number of residents were abducted, adding that the attackers later advanced toward Konkoso before fleeing.

According to him, joint security teams have since been deployed to the affected communities to assess the level of damage, pursue the attackers, and rescue abducted victims.

The latest violence highlights persistent security challenges in Borgu LGA, where armed groups are believed to exploit vast forest routes and porous borders. Residents and community leaders have renewed calls on authorities to strengthen security presence, establish permanent security bases, and improve surveillance in vulnerable communities to prevent further attacks.

Bandits Kill Six, Burn Police Station in Fresh Niger Attacks