At least 30 people were killed after terrorists attacked a bustling village market in Nigeria’s Niger State, police confirmed on Sunday. The assault occurred on Saturday in Kasuwan Daji market, located in Demo village within Kabe District of Borgu Local Government Area.
Police said the attackers stormed the market in the afternoon, unleashing violence that turned a centre of trade into a scene of terror. Shops were looted, food supplies stolen, and the market was set ablaze, sending thick smoke over the rural community.
An unspecified number of residents were also abducted during the raid, deepening fear among villagers already living under threat. Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said the attackers were suspected bandits operating from forest areas near the national park.
He said a joint security team visited the site on Sunday morning and confirmed that more than 30 people had died. Security forces are continuing operations in the area, with efforts underway to locate and rescue those abducted, Abiodun added.
Niger State has suffered a surge in terrorist attacks in recent weeks, particularly in remote communities with limited security presence. Armed groups frequently exploit forested terrain, launching sudden assaults before retreating beyond the reach of local defences.
In November, more than 300 pupils were abducted from a Catholic school in Agwara, highlighting the scale of insecurity. Although all the students were eventually freed, Saturday’s attack underscored the fragile calm gripping rural Niger State.