A deadly night of violence has once again exposed the fragile security situation in northern Nigeria, after heavily armed gunmen stormed Kasuwan-Daji village in Niger State, killing at least 30 residents and abducting several others in an attack that left the community shattered and fearful.
The assault, which lasted for hours, destroyed homes, burned markets, and forced survivors to flee, reinforcing growing concerns that rural communities remain dangerously exposed to organized criminal groups.
How the Attack Unfolded in Kasuwan-Daji
The attackers arrived in Kasuwan-Daji village in the Borgu local government area on Saturday evening and immediately opened fire on residents, creating panic as people attempted to escape through nearby fields and forests. Armed with automatic weapons, the gunmen moved freely across the village, targeting homes and public spaces while firing indiscriminately at anyone in sight.
As the violence continued, the attackers set the local market on fire and torched several houses, destroying food supplies, shops, and personal belongings that families depended on for survival, leaving behind scenes of devastation and despair.
Death Toll and Missing Residents Raise Alarm
Police later confirmed that at least 30 villagers lost their lives in the attack, but residents believe the actual death toll is significantly higher, with some estimating that at least 37 people were killed and warning that the number could rise further as several residents remain unaccounted for.
Some of those abducted during the raid were women and children, deepening fears about their safety, while families wait anxiously for any information about their whereabouts or fate.
Reverend Father Stephen Kabirat described the scale of the violence as even more severe. He said the gunmen killed more than 40 people and abducted several others, including children, during the raid.
Villagers Question Security Response
Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun said that security personnel had been deployed to the area to restore calm and search for the abducted residents, but villagers strongly disputed this claim and said no security forces had reached the community as of Sunday.
Many survivors said the absence of security made it impossible to return to the village to recover the bodies of those killed, leaving victims where they fell and increasing the emotional trauma faced by grieving families.
“The bodies are there (in Kasuwan-Daji village). If we don’t see any security, how can we go there?” one resident said.
Another survivor added that the attack continued for nearly three hours without any visible intervention, allowing the gunmen to operate without resistance.
Warning Signs Before the Attack
Residents said they had noticed the presence of armed men moving through nearby communities for nearly a week before the assault, raising serious questions about why preventive security measures were not taken despite clear warning signs.
Many locals believe that timely action could have prevented the attack or reduced its scale, and this perceived failure has further weakened trust between rural communities and security agencies.
Niger State has become increasingly vulnerable to attacks by armed criminal gangs, who exploit vast and largely ungoverned forest areas that allow them to hide, regroup, and launch repeated assaults on nearby villages.
Authorities believe the attackers who raided Kasuwan-Daji emerged from forest reserves near the Kabe district, an area that has long served as a refuge for armed groups due to difficult terrain and limited patrols.
A Pattern of Violence in the Region
The attack occurred close to Papiri community, where more than 300 schoolchildren and teachers were abducted from a Catholic school in November, an incident that shocked the nation and highlighted the worsening security crisis.
Saturday’s raid shows that despite national outrage over previous kidnappings, communities in the region continue to face serious threats from the same networks of armed groups.
Beyond the rising number of casualties, families in Kasuwan-Daji have lost homes, livelihoods, and a sense of safety, while children and elderly residents remain deeply traumatized by the violence they witnessed.
Community leaders are now calling for a stronger and more consistent security presence, warning that without urgent intervention, more villages could face similar attacks in the weeks ahead.
