It was yet another bloody day in Niger State as blood-thirsty bandits operating in the Kainji Lake National Park area have unleashed mayhem on a village market in the Kabe District of Borgu Local Government Area, razing it to the ground and killing 30 villagers.
The blood-baying marauders also abducted a yet-to-be-estimated number of people, reports said..
The Niger State Police Command confirmed that the tragic incident occurred on Saturday saying the criminals raided the Kasuwan Daji market in Demo village, after accessing it through Kabe.
During the attack which began at about 9p.m., the police further stated, the bandits burned down the market, looted food items and sundry items, randomly opened fire at villagers, and abducted many people en-route the expansive Kainji Lake National Park forest.
The Niger State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, a Superintendent of Police, who confirmed the attack revealed that a joint security team had visited the scene and that efforts were ongoing to rescue the kidnapped victims.
“On 03/01/2026 at about 9 p.m., information received revealed that at about 4:30 p.m. of the same date, suspected bandits from the National Park forest along Kabe District invaded Kasuwan Daji, located at Demo village via Kabe, burnt the market, looted shops, and carted away food items,” Abiodun said.
“On 04/01/2026 at about 8 a.m., a report indicated that a joint security team visited the scene, and over 30 victims lost their lives during the attack.
“Some persons were also kidnapped. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the kidnapped victims. Further developments will be communicated.”
Saturday’s attack came on the heels of the November 21, 2025 bandits’ invasion of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, during which 303 students and 12 teachers were abducted at about 2a.m. that fateful day.
Fifty pupils escaped from the bandits on the day of the attack and were reunited with their families, while the Federal Government secured release of 100 others.
On December 21, 2025, Mr. Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, announced that the remaining 230 abducted pupils and students of St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, had been freed.
