Barely days after regaining their freedom, students of St Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, have again fallen into the hands of terrorists.
In a brutal Saturday attack, no fewer than 42 people, including women and children, were killed by the gunmen who invaded Kasuwan Daji and Kaima villages, carting away foodstuffs, burning markets, and abducting scores of villagers.
According to a resident close to the affected communities, the terrorists emerged from Kainji National Park and took several people into captivity, including some of the recently released schoolchildren from the Papiri missionary school.
“They k!lled 37 people in Kasuwan Daji near Papiri, another five in Kaima village, and abducted many people, including children and students who had earlier been freed,” the source who spoke with Sunday Sun disclosed.
The attackers allegedly crossed from Kebbi State through the River Rofia axis, where they have been launching coordinated raids on villages. Just five days earlier, fleeing bandits from a military offensive in Kwara State struck Gebe and Goro villages, killing two and razing over 15 houses.
Last week, terrorists also attacked a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps checkpoint in Wawa, Borgu Local Government Area, carting away arms as personnel abandoned their posts.
Reverend Father Stephen Kabirat, Director of Communications for the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, confirmed the attacks and said more than 40 people had been killed.
“Our parish priest narrowly escaped abduction when the terrorists visited our mission house three days ago. They destroyed religious items, stole two motorbikes and over ₦200,000 in cash,” he revealed.
Another villager lamented that residents of affected communities, including families of the abducted students, now sleep in bushes for safety.
“As I am talking to you, some of the villages where the abducted schoolchildren come from have been sleeping in the bushes since their return because of the terrorists’ activities,” he said.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed the incident, with spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun stating that over 30 persons were killed in the Saturday evening attack.
“At about 4:30 p.m., suspected bandits from the National Park forest invaded Kasuwan Daji at Demo Village, killed over 30 people, burnt the market, and looted shops,” he said.
He added that a joint security team had visited the area and that rescue efforts for the abducted victims were ongoing.
“Further development will be communicated,” Abiodun stated.
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