At least 30 people were killed and several others abducted after gunmen raided a village in northern Nigeria over the weekend, according to ABC News.
The attack occurred Saturday night (January 3) in Kasuwan-Daji village, located in Niger State’s Borgu Local Government Area. Gunmen stormed the community, opening fire on residents and destroying homes and the local market, Niger State police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun confirmed in a statement.
As of Sunday (January 4), officials reported at least 37 deaths, though authorities warned the toll could rise as several people remain missing. Residents disputed police claims that security forces were present during the attack.
Rev. Fr. Stephen Kabirat, spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, told local media that more than 40 people were killed, with some children among those abducted. A resident who spoke anonymously out of fear for his safety told ABC News that the attackers had been seen in nearby communities for about a week before the raid.
“The bodies are there in Kasuwan-Daji village. If we don’t see any security, how can we go there?” the resident said, adding that the attack lasted up to three hours.
The raid marks the latest in a series of violent incidents across Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, where armed gangs have increasingly targeted remote communities with limited government and security presence. In November, more than 300 schoolchildren and teachers were kidnapped from a Catholic school in the nearby Papiri community, reflecting a growing pattern of mass abductions in the region.
Leave a Comment