Gunmen attacked Kasuwan-Daji village in Niger State's Borgu local government area on Saturday evening, opening fire on residents, burning the local market, and destroying houses. Conflicting reports emerged regarding the exact number of casualties, with police reporting at least 30 fatalities, while local residents and a Catholic Church spokesperson indicated higher figures. The incident also involved the abduction of several individuals, including children.
Attack Details
The assault on Kasuwan-Daji village, located in northern Nigeria, commenced on Saturday evening. The assailants initiated fire on villagers, subsequently razing the local market and multiple residential structures. One resident reported that the attack persisted for up to three hours. Gunmen had reportedly been observed near surrounding communities for approximately one week prior to the incident.
Casualty and Abduction Reports
Niger State police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun reported on Sunday that at least 30 villagers were killed and several others abducted. However, local residents provided a higher death toll, with at least two individuals stating 37 fatalities and noting that the number could increase as some individuals remained unaccounted for. Rev. Fr. Stephen Kabirat, spokesperson for the Catholic Church of Kontagora Diocese, indicated that over 40 people were killed and that some of the abducted individuals were children.
Security Response and Context
Police stated that officers had been deployed to search for those abducted. This claim was contradicted by residents, who reported that security forces had not yet arrived in the area as of Sunday. Survivors expressed apprehension about recovering bodies due to the perceived absence of security personnel.
Police identified the origin of the attackers as the National Park Forest along the Kabe district. This aligns with patterns where armed groups utilize extensive forest reserves as operational bases and hideouts. The incident occurs amidst ongoing violence in Nigeria, where armed gangs frequently target remote communities with limited security presence. The Kasuwan-Daji attack occurred near the Papiri community, which experienced an abduction of over 300 schoolchildren and teachers from a Catholic school in November.
Official Reactions
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu issued a condemnation of the attack. He stated that directives had been given to security officials to pursue the perpetrators and secure the release of individuals taken hostage. President Tinubu also emphasized that those responsible would face legal consequences and would be apprehended, along with any individuals found to have provided assistance.