Terrorists have killed four residents and burnt several shops during a dawn assault on Damala community in Woko District, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The assailants reportedly stormed the village in the early hours of Saturday, sending residents fleeing into nearby bushes to escape the onslaught.
Community sources told
The PUNCH that an unknown number of villagers were taken away by the attackers, in addition to a herd of cattle driven out of the area after the raid.
Saturday’s attack came barely days after marauders, operating in their numbers, laid siege to Kasuwan Daji Market in Demo village, also in Borgu, where more than 42 persons were massacred and several others abducted.
Confirming the latest incident, spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said in a statement on Tuesday that four villagers were killed while the bandits also rustled livestock and torched shops before escaping.
He said, “Armed bandits invaded Damala village in Woko District of Borgu LGA, rustled an unspecified number of cattle and killed four residents.
“Several shops were set ablaze during the attack. Security operatives swiftly mobilised to the area and have since conducted an assessment of the scene.”
Abiodun added that clearance operations were ongoing, while security surveillance had been reinforced to curb further incursions into vulnerable communities.
He assured the public that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, remained committed to tracking down the attackers and restoring calm.
Borgu and neighbouring Agwara Local Government Area have witnessed persistent assaults in recent months.
In March, bandits abducted 315 pupils, students and teachers of St Mary’s Catholic Schools in Paipiri community, Agwara.
The captives regained freedom after about a month in captivity following intervention from the Federal Government.