Suspected terrorists have launched a violent attack on Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, resulting in the death of one resident and the destruction of key public facilities, including the United Missionary Church of Africa (UMCA) and the community’s police station.
Confirming the incident, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed that armed bandits stormed the Agwara community and targeted the local police station, where officers on duty engaged them with the support of a tactical team deployed to the area.
Abiodun explained that the attackers later gained the upper hand and “used suspected dynamite to set the station ablaze.”
According to him, after attacking the police facility, the terrorists proceeded to the UMCA church within the community, where they set parts of the building on fire, before moving to other locations and abducting about five individuals whose identities have not yet been confirmed.
He added that security agencies were closely monitoring the situation and that “further development will be communicated.”
Reacting to the attack, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, urged the Federal Government, the Nigerian Army, and other relevant security agencies to urgently establish a permanent military base in Agwara to halt the persistent attacks plaguing the area.
Also speaking on the incident, Murtala Dantoro, son of the late Emir of Borgu, Haliru Dantoro, expressed concern that repeated terrorist assaults have transformed previously peaceful communities into areas gripped by fear and uncertainty.
He said, “Innocent lives are being lost, farmers have abandoned their farmlands, economic activities have paralyzed, and families are forced to flee their ancestry homes in search of safety.”
Dantoro further stated that the ongoing security vacuum has emboldened criminal elements who now operate with minimal resistance, worsening the humanitarian and economic conditions in the affected communities.
What you should know
Agwara Local Government Area in Niger State has increasingly come under attack by armed groups, raising serious concerns about security in the region.
The destruction of both a police station and a place of worship highlights the growing boldness of terrorists and the strain on local security structures. Community leaders and religious authorities are calling for a permanent military presence to deter further attacks, protect lives, and restore economic activities, especially farming.
Without stronger security intervention, residents fear continued displacement, loss of livelihoods, and further destabilization of once-peaceful communities.
