Suspected terrorists have launched another deadly attack in Niger State, killing one person, abducting five others, and setting fire to a church and a police station in Agwarra Local Government Area.
During the early morning assault, the attackers reportedly burned the United Missionary Church of Africa (UMCA) in Agwarra before moving toward Sokonba village, a community bordering Kabe, which was recently attacked.
Sources said the assailants looted food items and valuables before killing an elderly woman in Kabe town and abducting five residents.
Speaking on the incident, Murtala Dantoro, son of the late Emir, lamented that repeated attacks had turned once-peaceful communities into zones of fear and displacement.
“Innocent lives are being lost, farmers are abandoning their farmlands, economic activities have collapsed, and families are fleeing their homes for safety,” he said.
Dantoro blamed the worsening insecurity on the absence of a permanent and well-equipped military formation in Agwarra, urging both the state and federal governments to urgently intervene.
“The security vacuum has emboldened criminals who now operate with little resistance. If urgent steps are not taken, these terrorists may completely displace us from our homeland,” he warned.
Also reacting, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to establish a permanent military presence in the area.
“This is not a luxury but a necessity. A stationed military formation will deter criminal activities, restore confidence among residents, and enable displaced persons and farmers to return home,” the bishop said.
He expressed concern that terrorists now operate freely across Borgu and surrounding communities, warning that the situation was fast deteriorating.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attack, stating that police operatives engaged the attackers, who reportedly used suspected dynamite to destroy the police station.
“On February 1, 2026, at about 3:40 am, bandits invaded Agwarra and attacked the police station. The tactical team on ground engaged them, but the attackers overpowered the team and used suspected dynamite to set the station ablaze,” Abiodun said.
He added that the attackers later set part of the UMCA church on fire before moving to other locations where they abducted five persons whose identities are yet to be confirmed. He noted that security monitoring and operations in the area are ongoing.
