Bandits Kill Over 30, Kidnap Others in Niger

More than 30 people were killed and several others abducted in an attack by bandits in Niger State, police said on Sunday.

The attackers reportedly raided Kasuwan Daji village in the Kabe district on Saturday, setting a local market on fire and looting shops, mainly for food, according to authorities.

“Over 30 victims lost their lives during the attack, and some persons were also kidnapped,” Niger State police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said.

Bandits Kill Over 30, Kidnap Others in Niger. Credit: Punch

Kidnap gangs, referred to as bandits by locals, frequently carry out attacks across parts of northwest and north-central Nigeria, targeting villages and abducting people for ransom.

Niger State has been among the worst affected in recent months. In November 2025, gunmen abducted more than 250 students and staff from a Catholic school in the state.

Authorities later announced that the hostages were released in two phases, without disclosing whether a ransom was paid.

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Jimisayo Opanuga

Jimisayo Opanuga is a web writer in the Digital Department at News Central TV, where she covers African and international stories. Her reporting focuses on social issues, health, justice, and the environment, alongside general-interest news. She is passionate about telling stories that inform the public and give voice to underreported communities.