Dalena Reporters l Sunday, March 1, 2026
MINNA, Niger State — The death toll from a grisly series of terrorist attacks on rural communities in Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State has risen to 15, local sources confirmed on Sunday, as authorities and residents grapple with persistent insecurity in north-central Nigeria.
According to eyewitnesses and community leaders, armed men riding on motorcycles launched coordinated assaults on several villages including Tashan Maje, Saduro and Runtuwa late on Saturday, opening fire on residents, ransacking homes and looting property before withdrawing into nearby bushland.
The victims, whose identities are still being compiled by local officials and relatives, were reportedly shot dead in their homes and on village streets, with additional residents wounded in the violence. The attackers were described by survivors as heavily armed and moving rapidly between settlements during the late evening raids.
These attacks are part of an ongoing pattern of banditry and criminal raids that have plagued Niger State and neighbouring regions, where loosely organised criminal groups and armed gangs exploit porous borders and limited security presence to conduct robberies, shootings and kidnappings in rural communities.
Local authorities have yet to issue a comprehensive breakdown of casualties and are reportedly coordinating with security forces to provide relief, investigate the incident and bolster patrols in affected areas. Civilian vigilante groups and community volunteers also played roles in aiding survivors and transporting the wounded to medical facilities.
Residents of Borgu and surrounding communities continue to call for a more robust and sustained security presence,including establishment of permanent checkpoints and rapid-response units, to deter future attacks and provide reassurance to traumatised populations.
The broader insecurity in Niger State reflects a wider security crisis in northern Nigeria, where bandit gangs and armed groups have repeatedly targeted rural villages, leading to dozens of deaths over recent months and highlighting the urgent need for improved protection and crisis response.