At least six people have been killed and a police station set ablaze following coordinated attacks by suspected bandits on communities in Niger State.
The assault, which began late Friday night, targeted Tungan-Makeri and Konkoso in Borgu Local Government Area (LGA). Residents said heavily armed attackers stormed Tungan-Makeri, shooting indiscriminately and burning homes, forcing many villagers to flee to nearby communities.
An eyewitness from Zagatina village along the attackers’ route said he saw 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 noticed they were approaching, I quickly hid in the bush as they passed behind my house,” he recounted.
By the end of the raid on Tungan-Makeri, six people had reportedly lost their lives, several houses were razed, and many families displaced.
The attackers were said to have moved to Konkoso in the early hours of Saturday, where they allegedly set a police station on fire, destroying property and escalating tension in the area. Residents described the invasion as brazen, citing the absence of visible security personnel during the hours-long attack.
Some villagers reported sighting a Nigerian Air Force aircraft hovering around Tungan-Makeri after the initial assault, suggesting that aerial surveillance may have contributed to the bandits’ eventual retreat.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the command received reports that suspected bandits invaded Tungan-Makeri around 3:00 a.m. via the Shafachi district in Borgu LGA.
He confirmed that six persons were killed, several houses were burnt, and an unspecified number of residents were abducted. The attackers were also reported to have advanced toward Konkoso before fleeing.
According to the police, joint security teams have since been deployed to the affected communities to assess the damage, pursue the attackers, and rescue the abducted victims.
The latest violence underscores ongoing security challenges in parts of Borgu LGA, as residents call on authorities to strengthen security presence in vulnerable communities to prevent further attacks.
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