Bandits have again attacked Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, burning a police station and a church and abducting about five residents during an early Sunday morning raid.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday when the assailants stormed the community, overran the Agwara Divisional Police Station, and later set part of a United Methodist Church on fire. Agwara is the same area where about 300 pupils, students, and teachers of St. Mary’s Catholic School were abducted last year.
Confirming the incident, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the bandits invaded the police station at about 3:40 a.m. He explained that a police tactical team engaged the attackers in a gun battle but was eventually overpowered due to their number and firepower.
According to Abiodun, the attackers used suspected dynamite to set the police station ablaze before moving to the church, where they also burnt part of the building. He added that the bandits later spread into other parts of the community, abducting about five villagers whose identities had not yet been confirmed.
An eyewitness said the attackers arrived around 2:00 a.m., parked their motorcycles several kilometres away, and trekked into the town to avoid detection. He said they first attacked the police station, forcing the officers on duty to flee, before setting the facility on fire. The bandits reportedly moved from house to house, looting foodstuffs and valuables.
The eyewitness further stated that the attackers later went to the church, gathered benches, poured petrol on them, and set the building ablaze. A monthly vigil was reportedly ongoing at the church, but worshippers fled after receiving information about the bandits’ approach.
Confirming the incident, Reverend Yakubu Yohanna said no lives were lost, as church members escaped into hiding before the attackers arrived. Police authorities said security operatives are monitoring the situation and would provide further updates as investigations continue.
Agwara has experienced repeated bandit attacks in recent times, raising fresh concerns over security in the area.
