Terrorist Attacks Kill 42, Abduct Several in Niger Communities

December 4, 2026
By Ayinde Adeleke

No fewer than 42 persons have been killed following coordinated attacks on communities in Agwarra and Borgu Local Government Areas of Niger State.

Sources said the attacks, which have lasted for over a week, were carried out by suspected terrorists who reportedly operated without resistance due to the absence of security presence in the affected areas.

According to local accounts, 37 people were killed in Kasuwa Daji near Papiri, while five others lost their lives in Kaima village. An unconfirmed number of persons, including children, were abducted during the attacks.

The source disclosed that some of the abducted children are pupils and students of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwarra. He appealed to the government and security agencies to urgently intervene, noting that the situation has created serious insecurity across communities near the riverine areas.

Residents further reported that the attackers emerged from surrounding forests and continued to wreak havoc, burning a market on Saturday and abducting several people, including children.

Confirming the incident, the Director of Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Rev. Fr. Stephen Kabirat, said the attackers also targeted a Catholic mission house, killing over 40 persons and abducting others.

He stated that the parish priest narrowly escaped abduction when the terrorists invaded the mission house three days earlier, destroying religious items, carting away two motorcycles, and stealing cash estimated at over ₦200,000.

Security agencies have yet to issue an official statement on the attacks as of the time of filing this report.