Terror struck the Demo community in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on Saturday after suspected terrorists launched a coordinated assault on Kasuwan-Daji market, leaving more than 30 people dead and several others abducted.
According to residents, the attackers stormed the busy market in the late afternoon, opening fire indiscriminately and overwhelming traders and shoppers.
Moreover, the assault reportedly continued for several hours, stretching into the early hours of Sunday without any immediate resistance.
Eyewitness accounts described a scene of extreme brutality. A local resident said dozens of victims were rounded up, restrained, and executed in groups.
“What happened here was beyond an attack; it was a massacre carried out in cold blood,” the resident said, adding that fear had since gripped surrounding villages.
Beyond the killings, the assailants allegedly looted large quantities of food items and other valuables worth millions of naira.
Furthermore, parts of the market were set ablaze, destroying stalls and goods and dealing a heavy economic blow to the agrarian community.
Security sources indicated that the terrorists emerged from the nearby National Park in Borgu LGA before striking in broad daylight.
Hence, concerns have intensified over the vulnerability of communities located close to forest reserves in Niger State.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed the incident on Sunday.
Its spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, said security agencies had documented significant casualties and ongoing kidnappings following a preliminary assessment of the scene.
Abiodun noted that a joint security team visited the affected area on Sunday morning and confirmed that over 30 people were killed during the attack.
“Our operatives have established that several individuals were also taken away by the attackers,” he said, adding that rescue operations were already underway.
Meanwhile, residents are calling for a sustained security presence in Borgu and its environs.
“Without decisive action, these communities will remain exposed,” a community leader said, urging authorities to intensify patrols around the National Park and neighbouring settlements.
As investigations continue, security agencies have assured the public that further updates will be provided, while efforts to track the attackers and free the abducted victims remain ongoing.