KASUWAN‑DAJI, Niger State — Armed men stormed the village of Kasuwan‑Daji on Saturday, killing at least 30 people, looting shops, and setting fire to the local market, according to state authorities. Witnesses said the attackers arrived on motorcycles, heavily armed, and rounded up residents before opening fire.
The Attack
Local journalist accounts described scenes of horror as villagers were “slaughtered” or shot dead. Abdullahi Rofia, from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed the killings and said survivors were too terrified to speak openly: “They are hiding, they are too afraid to talk to anybody.”
Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun reported that emergency teams have been deployed to treat the injured, while security forces are working to rescue those kidnapped.
Banditry Crisis
The attack is the latest in a surge of violence across north‑central and north‑western Nigeria, where criminal gangs — locally known as bandits — have terrorised communities for years. These groups, now officially classified as terrorists by the Nigerian government, are notorious for mass kidnappings, extortion, and indiscriminate killings.
Despite laws prohibiting ransom payments, analysts say such payments remain common, fueling the gangs’ operations.
Community Fear and Displacement
Villagers expressed frustration at the absence of security forces during the attack. One resident told BBC Hausa: “We are dying like chickens, and does the government care about us? The government hears and sees what is happening, but it is not doing anything.”
The violence is driving families from ancestral homes, deepening displacement in a region already struggling with insecurity.
Context: Schools and Kidnappings
The attack came just a day after Niger State authorities announced the phased reopening of schools, which had been closed following mass abductions. In November 2025, more than 250 students and staff were kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, one of Nigeria’s worst abduction cases. All were eventually freed before Christmas, but the incident underscored the scale of the crisis.
Outlook
Kasuwan‑Daji’s tragedy highlights the growing reach of armed groups in Nigeria’s rural areas. With villagers pleading for protection and security forces stretched thin, the question remains whether the government can stem the tide of violence that has destabilised much of Niger State and beyond.