President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an intensified manhunt for terrorists responsible for a series of deadly attacks on communities in Niger State, particularly within the Agwara and Borgu local government areas. This directive came as fresh details emerged regarding the extensive scale of killings, abductions, and destruction, following coordinated raids by armed bandits suspected to have emerged from forest enclaves in the region.

The most prominent of these attacks targeted Kasuwan Daji and surrounding villages, where reports indicate a grim toll. Initially, over 30 people were confirmed killed, with some local sources reporting figures as high as 40 or even 50, including 43 given a mass burial in one account. Dozens were abducted, including schoolchildren from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, along with women and other residents. The assailants reportedly struck around 9pm on Saturday, January 3, 2026, and operated until the early hours of Sunday in some areas, torching a market, looting shops, and carting away foodstuffs. They also attacked residents in their homes, shooting them and setting houses ablaze, leaving many villagers displaced and forcing some to flee into nearby bushes for safety.

The attacks have been ongoing for over a week, with bandits exploiting what residents described as a weak security presence in remote villages. In addition to Kasuwan Daji near Papiri, five people were confirmed dead in Kaima village. The Director of Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Reverend Father Stephen Kabirat, corroborated the scale of violence, stating that over 40 people had been killed and many others taken captive. He recounted that the parish priest narrowly escaped abduction when bandits stormed the mission house, destroying religious items, stealing two motorcycles, and making away with over ₦200,000 in cash while actively searching for the priest.

In response to the horrific events, President Tinubu explicitly instructed 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 “hunt down the terrorists behind the Kasuwan Daji attack and ensure they are brought swiftly to justice.” He declared, “These terrorists have tested the resolve of our country and its people. They must face the full consequences of their criminal actions. No matter who they are or what their intent is, they must be hunted down. In addition, those who aid, abet, or enable them will also be brought to justice.” The President further ordered the immediate rescue of all abducted victims and directed that security operations be stepped up around vulnerable communities, especially those close to forested areas, urging Nigerians to stand united against these threats.

The Niger State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, stating that suspected bandits from the National Park Forest along Kabe District invaded Kasuwan Daji at Demo Village via Kabe. Abiodun noted that a joint security team had visited the affected communities and that rescue and stabilization operations were ongoing. Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, expressed profound sadness over the attacks, describing them as cruel and extending his deepest sympathy to the affected communities, victims, and their families. He affirmed his administration’s collaboration with the federal government and security agencies to enhance security and confirmed that a joint security team is actively trailing the terrorists to rescue the kidnapped victims.

The incident also drew condemnation from other state leaders, including Ogun State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Prince Dapo Abiodun. He described the killings as callous, senseless, and a crime against humanity, offering heartfelt condolences to Niger State and calling on security agencies to swiftly track down, arrest, and prosecute the perpetrators. Governor Abiodun emphasized that such barbaric acts must not go unpunished and urged decisive action to prevent recurrence. Residents and community leaders have renewed their calls for urgent and sustained federal intervention, warning that without a stronger security presence, more villages could face similar devastating attacks.