Gunmen suspected to be terrorists have again abducted pupils and students of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, barely weeks after some of them were released from an earlier captivity.
The attackers also killed no fewer than 42 people, including women and children, and set a major village market ablaze during coordinated attacks on Kasuwa Daji and Kaima communities on Saturday.
Sources in Minna said an unspecified number of villagers were abducted and taken into the Kainji Lake National Park, among them students of the Papiri missionary school who had recently regained their freedom.
A source close to the affected communities disclosed that 37 persons were killed in Kasuwa Daji near Papiri, while five others were murdered in Kaima village, as the assailants moved from house to house shooting residents and forcing others into the forest.
The latest violence comes barely five days after fleeing bandits from a military operation in neighbouring Kwara State invaded Gebe and Goro communities in Agwara LGA, killing two people and burning more than 15 houses after looting valuables.
About a week earlier, gunmen also attacked a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) checkpoint in Wawa community, Borgu Local Government Area, carting away arms and ammunition as security personnel fled.
According to residents, the terrorists have established strongholds within the Kainji National Park, from where they launch repeated attacks on surrounding communities, crossing through the River Rofia axis from Kebbi State.
“They have been coming out of the forest for about a week now, wreaking havoc. Just yesterday, they burnt a market and abducted many people, including children,” a source said, calling on the government and security agencies to urgently intervene.
Confirming the incident, the Director of Communications, Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Rev. Father Stephen Kabirat, said over 40 people were killed, while several others were taken hostage.
He revealed that the parish priest narrowly escaped abduction when the terrorists attacked the mission house three days earlier.
“They destroyed church items, stole two motorcycles and over ₦200,000 in cash. They were searching for the priest, but he escaped. Unfortunately, they abducted some villagers, including children,” he said.
Another resident said fear has forced some communities into the bush, noting that villages where abducted schoolchildren come from have been deserted since their return.
Confirming the attacks, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the command received reports around 9:00pm on Saturday that suspected bandits had attacked communities, killing over 30 people and abducting an unconfirmed number of persons.
According to him, at about 4:30pm, the gunmen invaded Kasuwan Daji market in Demo village via Kebe District, killing residents, burning the market and looting shops and food items.
He added that a joint security team has visited the affected areas and efforts are ongoing to rescue the abducted victims.
“Further developments will be communicated,” Abiodun said.