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Gunmen Kill Couple During Night Church Attack in Niger

Published

4 weeks ago

December 26, 2025

Gunmen Kill Couple During Night Church Attack in Niger

A couple have been killed after armed attackers stormed a church in southwest Niger, firing shots into the air and triggering panic among worshippers, local sources told AFP on Friday.

The attack occurred late Wednesday night in Mailo village, located in the Dosso region, a volatile area of the Sahel nation of Niger that has endured years of violence linked to armed groups associated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

According to a local resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, the incident happened at about 11:00 pm while Christians were attending a church service.

“Armed individuals entered the church and began firing into the air. People panicked and ran,” the source said. “A man and his wife fled and hid in their house, but the attackers followed them and killed them.”

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Another resident confirmed that several worshippers fled to neighbouring villages, while others escaped into nearby bushes to avoid the attackers. The assailants were also reported to have stolen cattle before leaving the area.

Niger has been grappling with escalating insecurity for over a decade, particularly in its western and southeastern regions. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), nearly 2,000 people have been killed by conflict-related violence in Niger this year alone.

Despite the attack, relations between Christians and Muslims in Niger remain largely peaceful, observers say. However, suspected jihadist groups have previously been blamed for attacks on churches in the Tillaberi region between 2018 and 2021, as well as the killing of 111 Muslim worshippers in Tillaberi earlier this year.

Security forces have yet to issue an official statement on the Dosso incident, as residents continue to call for increased protection of rural communities facing persistent threats from armed groups.

Gunmen Kill Couple During Night Church Attack in Niger

Related Topics:Church attack couple Gunmen

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Woman Arrested After Allegedly Poisoning Newlywed Husband With Rat Poison

Published

60 minutes ago

January 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Woman Arrested After Allegedly Poisoning Newlywed Husband With Rat Poison

The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested a newly‑wedded woman suspected of poisoning her husband to death in Gauza village, Jahun Local Government Area. The incident, which occurred on January 23, 2026, has sent shockwaves through the community.

Police reported that the deceased fell seriously ill after eating a meal prepared by his wife and was rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Investigators from the Jahun Divisional Police Headquarters launched an inquiry and quickly detained the wife as the main suspect.

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During interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted to putting rat poison in her husband’s food, claiming she was coerced into the marriage by her parents, which fueled resentment that led to the deadly act. Police have confirmed that a full investigation is underway, and the suspect will face court charges once the investigation is complete.

The Commissioner of Police has urged the public to remain calm, stressing that marital disputes should never escalate to violence, and warning that such actions have irreversible consequences. The tragic case highlights growing concerns over domestic poisoning and marital-related crimes in the region.

Woman Arrested After Allegedly Poisoning Newlywed Husband With Rat Poison

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Bandits Kill Six Persons in Niger State as Police Confirm Attack

Published

1 hour ago

January 24, 2026

Trends Admin

Niger State Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun

Bandits Kill Six Persons in Niger State as Police Confirm Attack

The Niger State Police Command has confirmed that six people were killed by suspected bandits in the Wawa community of Borgu Local Government Area, intensifying concerns over the growing security crisis in rural Niger State.

Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun stated that the attack occurred on January 22, 2026, when the victims — including farmers and a local vigilante — were ambushed while heading to their farms near Damala village. Two other people remain missing, and search operations are ongoing.

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Local residents described the incident as devastating, urging the state and federal governments to take urgent measures to protect vulnerable communities from frequent bandit attacks.

This latest incident is part of a broader pattern of banditry in Niger State and neighbouring areas. Recent attacks in Damala village, Woko District, and Kasuwan Daji market in Demo community have left dozens dead, properties destroyed, and residents displaced, highlighting the escalating rural insecurity in the region.

Authorities have vowed to strengthen security operations, while experts warn that continued attacks threaten socioeconomic stability, displace local populations, and erode confidence in local law enforcement.

Bandits Kill Six Persons in Niger State as Police Confirm Attack

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DSS Silent as NAPO Leader, Two Others Held Incommunicado

Published

2 hours ago

January 24, 2026

Trends Admin

President General of the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Mr Harold Benstowe

DSS Silent as NAPO Leader, Two Others Held Incommunicad

The whereabouts of the President General of the National Association of Plant Operators (NAPO), Mr Harold Benstowe and two other union officials, Mr Tuwonimi Benstowe and Mr Michael Mbata remain unknown, following their alleged arrest by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Rivers State, according to their lawyer.

NAPO’s counsel said the union leader and his colleagues were picked up during a security operation in Finima, Bonny Local Government Area, but have since been held incommunicado, with no official confirmation from the DSS on their detention or location. The development has sparked growing concern among family members, labour unions and civil society groups.

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The lawyer described the action as unlawful and a violation of the detainees’ fundamental human rights, noting that security agencies are required by law to disclose the whereabouts of arrested persons and grant them access to legal representation.

The arrests reportedly followed rising tensions linked to NAPO’s labour activities, including a recent warning strike by plant operators working on the NLNG Train 7 project in Bonny. The union had protested alleged irregular salary deductions and tax remittance issues, which were also the subject of a pending case before the National Industrial Court.

Labour rights advocates have warned that the continued silence of the DSS could undermine due process and escalate industrial unrest, calling for the immediate disclosure of the detainees’ location or their release.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain an official response from the DSS have remained unsuccessful, while pressure continues to mount on authorities to respect the rule of law and constitutional safeguards.