At least 12 people were killed on Tuesday when armed bandits launched coordinated attacks on three communities in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State. The assailants reportedly shot villagers, burned homes, and rustled large numbers of cattle before fleeing toward the border.
Security analyst Bakatsine, who shared details on X, said the gunmen first struck Tungan Aljana where three residents were killed. They set parts of the village ablaze and carted away cattle belonging to local farmers. The attackers then moved to nearby Tungan Makeri and killed nine more people while also making away with livestock. Daidanai community was also hit, with additional casualties and cattle losses reported, though exact figures were yet to be confirmed at press time.
The raids left families mourning dead relatives and counting losses from destroyed property and stolen livestock. For many residents, cattle and farming remain their only source of income, and the attacks have wiped out years of work in minutes. The violence has deepened fear across Borgu LGA, a border area that has faced repeated bandit incursions.
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In response, hundreds of local vigilantes from Borgu communities mobilized to track the attackers. Residents said volunteers from neighboring Benin Republic joined the manhunt, highlighting the cross-border nature of insecurity along the Nigeria-Benin corridor. The search is focused on forests and remote areas around Kainji Lake National Park, which insiders say has been overrun by Ansaru terrorists and bandit groups operating from permanent bases.
Bakatsine condemned state and federal authorities for leaving border communities vulnerable. “As rural communities continue to bury their dead and organize their own response to insecurity, how many more villages must come under attack before authorities can guarantee the safety of those living in these remote areas?” he asked.
Despite repeated promises by Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago to clear the forests, communities in Borgu, Shiroro, and Rafi LGAs remain exposed. With little federal presence, local vigilantes have become the only line of defense. Neither the Niger State Police Command nor the Defence Headquarters had issued an official statement on the casualties or ongoing operations as of the time of this report.
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