Armed men suspected to be bandits have carried out a deadly attack on a rural market community in Niger State, North Central Nigeria, leaving at least thirty people feared dead and several others abducted.
The attack occurred on Saturday, 3 January 2026, at Kasuwan Daji Market in Demo village, located within Kabe District of Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State, a region that shares borders with the Kainji Lake National Park, a vast forest reserve often exploited by criminal groups as hideouts.
According to multiple local accounts, the attackers stormed the market during trading hours, setting shops and stalls on fire, shooting indiscriminately, and looting food items and other goods before fleeing with abducted villagers.
Okay News reports that the assailants reportedly accessed the community through remote routes connected to the expansive Kainji Lake National Park, which stretches across parts of Niger and Kwara States in Nigeria and has become a persistent security concern due to limited surveillance.
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, said security agencies had deployed a joint task force to the area following the assault.
“Over 30 victims lost their lives during the attack, some persons were also kidnapped,” Abiodun said, adding that the attack took place on Saturday.
He further disclosed that efforts were ongoing to rescue those abducted and to restore security in the affected communities.
As of the time of filing this report, authorities noted that investigations were still underway to independently verify the final casualty figures, as access to the affected area remains difficult due to its terrain and proximity to forest routes.
The incident adds to growing concerns over rural insecurity in Niger State, where repeated attacks on farming and trading communities have disrupted livelihoods and heightened fears among residents.
