Residents of Tungan-Makeri and Konkoso communities in Borgu Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State are counting their losses after a deadly, coordinated attack by suspected bandits left at least six people dead, dozens of homes destroyed, and a police station razed.
The attack reportedly began in Tungan-Makeri, where heavily armed men stormed the community, firing sporadically and setting several houses ablaze. Eyewitnesses said the assailants, estimated to be more than 200, operated for hours, triggering panic and forcing residents to flee to neighbouring villages for safety.
A resident of Zagatina village, located along the attackers’ route, recounted seeing scores of motorcycles conveying the gunmen.
“I counted about 41 motorcycles, each carrying two or three persons. Some even had women and children with them. When I realised they were approaching, I quickly hid in the bush as they passed behind my house,” he said.
By the time the attackers withdrew from Tungan-Makeri, six residents had reportedly been killed, several houses reduced to rubble, and many families displaced.
The gunmen were said to have advanced to the nearby Konkoso community, where they allegedly set a police station on fire, destroying property and further heightening tension across the district. Residents described the invasion as brazen, lamenting the absence of a visible security presence during the assault.
Some locals also reported sighting a Nigerian Air Force aircraft over Tungan-Makeri after the initial attack, with residents attributing the eventual withdrawal of the bandits to aerial surveillance.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the command received reports that suspected bandits invaded Tungan-Makeri via the Shafachi district in Borgu LGA.
According to him, six people were killed, several houses were set ablaze, and an unspecified number of residents were abducted during the attack. He added that the assailants were also reported to have moved towards Konkoso, noting that details were still sketchy as of the time of briefing.
SP Abiodun disclosed that joint security teams have since been deployed to the affected communities to assess the situation, while efforts are ongoing to rescue abducted victims and restore normalcy.
The latest incident underscores the persistent security challenges confronting parts of Borgu LGA, with residents urging the Niger State Government and security agencies to strengthen security presence in vulnerable communities to prevent further attacks.
