Armed men have violently stormed a village in Nigeria's Niger state, killing at least 30 people and looting shops, state authorities have said. The attackers emerged from a forest near the village of Kasuwan-Daji on Saturday, setting fire to the local market, looting shops, and kidnapping an unspecified number of people.
According to a local journalist, The gunmen entered the town on motorcycles carrying weapons, rounded up people and then proceeded to slaughter them, while others were shot dead. There has been a notable increase in attacks and kidnappings by armed criminal gangs, commonly referred to as bandits, particularly in western and central regions of Nigeria.
Abdullahi Rofia, from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed reports that villagers were rounded up and killed. He noted the palpable fear in the community, with residents too afraid to engage or speak out. They are scared that if you talk, they will turn and do the same to you, Rofia said.
Niger state police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed that an emergency team has been deployed to assist the injured while security forces are actively working to rescue those kidnapped. There are legal restrictions against paying ransom to these criminal organizations, yet enforcement of this law remains inconsistent.
A witness bemoaned the lack of security in the village, pleading for government intervention, stating, We are dying like chickens, and does the government care about us? The government hears and sees what is happening, but it is not doing anything about it. What can we do as ordinary people? This attack occurred shortly after authorities announced the phased reopening of schools previously closed due to security concerns.
Residents are increasingly driven from their homes, fearing further violence. The incident highlights a growing crisis in Nigeria, where attacks have escalated dramatically, leaving communities vulnerable and in distress.
