Kontagora: Armed bandits have killed one person and abducted several others during fresh attacks on communities in Nigeria’s Kontagora Catholic Diocese, local church and security sources said.
The attacks took place on February 1 in parts of Agwara and Mashegu local government areas of Niger State. Residents said the gunmen arrived in large numbers at night and fired shots as people tried to flee.
One person was confirmed dead, while several villagers were taken away by the attackers. Homes and shops were looted, and many families escaped into nearby bushes for safety.
The bandits also set fire to a police station and a church building. A Catholic convent and a health clinic were targeted, forcing religious sisters and health workers to run for their lives. No priest or nun was reported killed, but church officials said the trauma among the people is deep.
Local leaders said farming and daily activities have almost stopped because of fear. Parents are keeping children indoors, and some families have begun leaving their villages to seek safety in larger towns.
Security officials said reinforcements were sent to the area after the attacks. They confirmed that armed groups are operating from forest areas nearby and are using the terrain to launch raids and kidnappings.
These latest assaults are part of a wider wave of violence in northern Nigeria, where bandit groups have carried out killings, kidnappings and attacks on schools, markets and places of worship in recent months.
Church leaders in the diocese have appealed to the government to strengthen security and rescue those who were abducted. They also asked for support for displaced families and damaged church and health facilities.
Residents say they fear more attacks if strong action is not taken soon. They are calling on authorities to restore peace so they can return to their homes and farms without fear.