By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Deadly Attack Hits Niger Community Market, Dozens Feared Dead, Many Missing
A quiet market day in Niger State turned tragic on Saturday after gunmen suspected to be bandits stormed Kasuwan Daji Market in Demo village, leaving at least 30 people dead and several others unaccounted for.
Witnesses said the attackers arrived in large numbers and struck without warning, causing panic as traders and residents scrambled for safety. Shops and food stalls were reportedly looted and set on fire, forcing many to flee into nearby bushes.
Local sources believe the assailants may have operated from routes linked to the Kainji Lake National Park area, a region that has increasingly been associated with armed criminal activity in recent years.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that a joint team of security operatives has visited the affected community.
Police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, said efforts were ongoing to restore calm and track those responsible for the attack, while search operations continue for people believed to have been abducted.
Saturday’s incident adds to growing concerns over security in parts of Niger State, where rural communities and markets have repeatedly come under attack.
In recent weeks, residents have reported heightened fear as armed groups continue to target villages, farmlands, and trading centres.
Security sources disclosed that, in a separate incident, Nigerian Army troops recently repelled an attempted attack on Babana community, neutralising two suspected bandits and recovering weapons.
The military has also intensified operations, including aerial surveillance and strikes, across several troubled local government areas in the state.
As authorities work to contain the situation, community leaders are calling for sustained security presence to protect residents and prevent further attacks on civilian populations.
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