Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, has strongly denounced the terrorist assault on communities in Borgu Local Government Area, describing the incident as a brutal and unacceptable act against innocent citizens.
The governor revealed that a joint security task force has been deployed and is actively tracking the attackers, with the aim of rescuing those abducted during the raid.
In a statement issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, Bago characterised the Kasuwan Daji Market attack as cruel and nefarious, noting that it resulted in the killing of more than 30 people and the abduction of several others.
He expressed deep sympathy with residents of the affected communities, particularly the victims and their families, saying the tragedy has brought pain and grief to the state. According to the governor, it was deeply troubling to begin the year with such a devastating incident, which has once again highlighted the security challenges confronting rural communities.
Bago assured the people that his administration remains committed to restoring peace, stressing that the state government is working closely with the Federal Government and security agencies to strengthen surveillance and protect vulnerable areas. He urged residents to remain calm, steadfast in faith, and supportive of ongoing security efforts aimed at preventing further attacks.
The deadly assault on Kasuwan-Daji market in the Demo community of Borgu Local Government Area occurred on Saturday and resulted in the loss of more than 30 lives, with many others taken away by the attackers. The assailants, armed with guns, reportedly stormed the market in the evening and continued their operation into the early hours of Sunday.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the attackers looted foodstuffs and valuables worth millions of naira before setting the market on fire. A local resident claimed that about 42 people were bound and killed during the attack, which was carried out without resistance.
The terrorists were said to have emerged from the National Park in Borgu LGA and operated in broad daylight. The Niger State Police Command later confirmed the incident.
In response to the massacre, President Bola Tinubu directed the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to track down the perpetrators and ensure they are brought to justice without delay.
What you should know
The Kasuwan Daji attack underscores the growing insecurity in parts of Niger State, particularly communities close to forest reserves and national parks often used as hideouts by criminal groups.
The response from both the state and federal governments signals renewed pressure on security agencies to act decisively, rescue abducted victims, and prevent further attacks.
While investigations and pursuit operations are ongoing, the incident has intensified calls for stronger security presence, improved intelligence gathering, and sustained collaboration between federal authorities and state governments to protect rural populations and economic centres such as local markets.
