Suspected Boko Haram fighters have killed at least 21 people in fresh coordinated attacks across parts of Niger State, residents and security sources confirmed on Thursday.
The attacks reportedly took place late Wednesday night in communities within Borgu and Agwara local government areas of the state. Witnesses said the assailants, who arrived in large numbers, moved from village to village, shooting residents indiscriminately and setting houses on fire, leaving a trail of destruction.
According to renowned security reporter and analyst, Comrade Zakari Y. Adamu Kontogora, who disclosed the incident on his Facebook page, the attackers unleashed terror on several rural settlements before fleeing the area. He quoted security operatives who spoke to his newspaper as saying that at least 21 people were confirmed dead after the gunmen stormed the Konkoso community, which was among the worst-hit locations.
Local residents described scenes of chaos and devastation, with several homes razed and valuables destroyed. Many families were forced to flee into surrounding bushes in search of safety as the attackers advanced. Survivors said some victims were killed in their sleep, while others were shot while attempting to escape from their homes.
Although several people were reportedly injured during the attacks, exact casualty figures were yet to be officially confirmed as of the time of filing this report. Efforts were said to be ongoing to account for missing persons and assess the full scale of damage across the affected communities.
The latest violence has heightened fear among residents of border communities in Niger State, who have repeatedly warned about the increasing presence of insurgent groups in the North-Central region. Community leaders have renewed calls on the federal and state governments to urgently strengthen security deployment, enhance intelligence gathering, and provide relief for displaced residents.
As at press time, the Niger State Government and security agencies had not issued an official statement on the incident, while investigations were said to be ongoing.
