Gunmen riding motorcycles killed at least 32 people and abducted an undetermined number of others in coordinated attacks on three villages in Niger State, Nigeria, on Saturday, local police and residents reported. The attacks targeted communities in the Borgu area, a region increasingly vulnerable to violence perpetrated by armed groups and criminal gangs.
Niger State police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun confirmed an attack on Tunga-Makeri village, stating that six people were killed and several homes were set ablaze, with an unknown number of residents abducted. He added that the assailants continued their attacks on Konkoso village, but details remained unclear.
Jeremiah Timothy, a resident of Konkoso, described a brutal assault that began in the early hours of Saturday with sustained gunfire. “At least 26 people were killed so far in the village after they set the police station ablaze,” he told Reuters. He stated the attackers arrived around 6:00 AM GMT, firing indiscriminately. Residents reported hearing military jets overhead during the attack.
Abdullahi Adamu, another Konkoso resident, corroborated the death toll, stating that 26 people were killed and that the attacks occurred without any visible security presence. A humanitarian source, speaking anonymously to AFP, raised the death toll in Konkoso to 38, reporting that victims were either shot or had their throats slit. The source added that bodies continued to be recovered from the village, and most homes were burned down.
The attacks extended to Pissa village, where a police station was set on fire and one person was killed, according to reports. Residents reported that the gunmen abducted four women from Konkoso following the attack on the village.
The violence in Niger State follows a recent surge in attacks in neighboring Kwara and Katsina states earlier this month, resulting in nearly 200 deaths. The border region between Niger and Kwara states, encompassing the Kainji Forest, is known to harbor armed groups, including Boko Haram fighters. In October 2023, the al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) claimed responsibility for its first attack on Nigerian soil, near Woro in Kwara State.
Local leaders in the Borgu area of Niger State had appealed to President Bola Tinubu last week to establish a military base in the region to address the recurring attacks, according to Nigerian media reports. The calls for increased security come as Nigeria faces ongoing challenges in restoring stability and protecting its citizens.
The attacks occur amid broader security concerns in the Sahel region, where violent extremist organizations are expanding their influence. According to the National Counterterrorism Center, ISIS-West Africa (ISIS-WA) is one of ISIS’s largest and most lethal branches, controlling territory and displacing thousands in Nigeria and neighboring countries. The collapse of international counterterrorism support and weakening regional leadership have created a vacuum exploited by extremist groups, as noted by the Council on Foreign Relations.
Nigeria has been under international pressure to improve security, including concerns raised by the United States regarding the protection of Christians. Nigerian authorities have denied systematic persecution of Christians, while independent experts note that the country’s security crises affect both Christians, and Muslims. Nigeria has increased cooperation with the United States, and in December 2025, the U.S. Military conducted airstrikes in Sokoto State targeting suspected armed fighters.
