Bandits Kill 30 in Niger State Village Raids

Armed bandits raided multiple villages in Nigeria's Niger State over the weekend, killing at least 30 people, abducting an undetermined number of residents and setting fire to homes, shops and a police outpost, local officials and witnesses reported. The assaults, which began early Saturday in the Borgu Local Government Area near the border with Benin, targeted communities including Tunga Makeri, Konkoso and Pissa, highlighting the persistent insecurity plaguing northern Nigeria.

According to the Niger State Police Command, the first attack struck Tunga Makeri around 3 a.m., where gunmen on motorcycles killed six people, burned several houses and kidnapped several others before moving to nearby villages. By mid-morning, the violence had spread, with assailants shooting sporadically for hours and razing additional structures, including the Pissa Police Station. Witnesses described more than 200 attackers operating in the remote area, about 200 kilometers from the nearest Nigerian Air Force base in New Bussa. A military helicopter was deployed, but no bandit casualties were confirmed. Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun stated that joint security teams were mobilized for rescue...