Residents of Kasuwan Daji in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State remain traumatised following a brutal terrorist attack on Saturday, January 3, 2026, which has now claimed no fewer than 45 lives.

Eyewitness accounts and testimonies from grieving families describe scenes of chaos, bloodshed and mass displacement, underscoring the depth of fear and devastation that has enveloped the area.

The attack unfolded at the Kasuwan Daji Market, where suspected bandits, believed to be operating from the Kainji National Park forest near the Kabe axis, stormed the area and opened fire indiscriminately on traders and shoppers. Many of the victims were described as breadwinners who had gone out to earn a living for their families. Shops were looted, the market was set ablaze, and panic sent residents fleeing for their lives.

When journalists visited the community, it was evident that fear still dominated daily life. Many residents had abandoned their homes, expressing doubts over whether safety would return despite repeated assurances from authorities. The once-thriving market, a hub of commerce and social interaction, now lies in ruins, standing as a stark symbol of the violence unleashed in broad daylight.

The carnage extended beyond the market. In nearby villages, at least 12 people were reportedly slaughtered, while dozens of others were abducted as the attackers moved unhindered through the area. Families spoke of homes being ransacked and valuables destroyed, leaving survivors struggling to comprehend the scale and brutality of the assault.

Kasuwan Daji, located near the borders of Borgu and Agwara local government areas, is only a few kilometres from Papiri, where pupils and staff of St Mary Catholic School were recently abducted. The latest attack has revived painful memories of that incident, with villagers recalling the trauma endured by their children before they were released last month.

Several families, who requested anonymity, described the assault as cruel and calculated. Beyond the grief of losing loved ones, they said the uncertainty surrounding abducted relatives and the destruction of property had deepened their suffering.

Speaking on the attackers’ tactics, a local resident, Mallam Farouk Musa, said the assailants typically emerge from the Kainji National Park and game reserve forest, pass through the Kabe Hills, strike villages and markets, and then retreat back into the forest. “They attack and disappear, leaving villagers to pick up the pieces,” he said.

A market trader, popularly known as Madam Titi, said she lost four relatives in the attack, forcing her and others to flee the area. She explained that her village, Babelu, close to Kasuwan Daji, lost dozens of residents on the same day. According to her, traders were caught completely off guard at the market and shot at randomly. She narrowly escaped death and possible abduction by hiding, only to return later to find 30 bodies lying lifeless in the market.

“They went into the villages, tied people’s hands and slaughtered them like animals,” she said, adding that at least 12 villagers were killed in that manner. Madam Titi called on the government to provide adequate security, insisting that only then would displaced residents feel safe enough to return. “How do you expect me to go back when I just buried four people I lived with every day?” she asked.

Another resident, Dauda Baka-Aure, said he also lost four relatives during the attack and has since relocated with others to the neighbouring community of Kofanti. He described their new reality as one of hardship and humiliation, with many adults sleeping outdoors in the cold while limited shelter is reserved for children. “We abandoned our village and became beggars overnight. We are truly traumatised,” he said.

Another trader, Asebe, recalled hearing gunshots while in her shop and fleeing in fear. When she returned after the attackers had left, she was confronted with bodies lying in pools of blood. “People were alive one moment, and the next they were gone. It was unbelievable,” she said.

Mallam Umar Kwana said five of his children were abducted during the chaos at the market. Although none of his relatives were killed, he said the loss of his children had left him devastated. “There was confusion everywhere. Later, I could not find my children. They were taken into the forest with others,” he said.

The Director of Communications of the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Reverend Father Matthew Kabirat, confirmed that parishioners and priests were relocating due to fear of further attacks. He said security personnel deployed after the incident were no longer visible, deepening anxiety among residents. According to him, the attackers abducted women and children and set the market ablaze, with smoke reportedly visible as far as 15 kilometres away in Papiri.

Another villager, Abuka, said communities in Papiri, Kwana and Tugan Salama across Borgu and Agwara local government areas were living in constant fear. He claimed the bandits moved freely for days without resistance and that children recently released from captivity had been further traumatised. “People are leaving in large numbers, abandoning their homes and property,” he said.

The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attack and said security forces were pursuing the perpetrators, though he gave no update on arrests or the rescue of abducted victims. The state government also expressed condolences and pledged to work with the federal authorities to prevent further attacks.

Despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for security agencies to launch an immediate manhunt to rescue abducted victims, residents say the situation remains precarious. The worsening insecurity has drawn the attention of Murtala Haliru Dantoro, son of the late Emir of Borgu, who appealed directly to the President to intervene, citing the worsening humanitarian situation in the Borgu Emirate.

He said persistent killings and abductions had reached an unbearable level, destroying livelihoods and eroding public confidence in the state’s ability to protect its citizens. He urged both the President and Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago to act decisively, stressing that the crisis was no longer local but a full-blown humanitarian emergency.

As the smoke clears over Kasuwan Daji and neighbouring villages, grief, fear and displacement linger. Families continue to mourn the dead and search for abducted relatives, while communities struggle to rebuild amid the looming threat of further attacks. The tragedy stands as a stark reminder of the human cost of insecurity in Niger State and the urgent need for decisive, sustained action to restore safety and dignity to the Borgu Emirate and its people.