At least 50 people have been confirmed dead following a brutal attack on a market and surrounding communities in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State, marking one of the deadliest incidents in the region so far this year and renewing fears over worsening insecurity across rural Nigeria.
According to local authorities and security sources, heavily armed gunmen stormed a busy market area and nearby villages, opening fire on civilians, looting shops, and setting properties ablaze. Initial reports placed the death toll at about 30, but officials later confirmed that more bodies were recovered as security forces combed the area, pushing the figure to at least 50 fatalities.
The attack triggered panic among residents, many of whom fled into nearby bushes and forests to escape the violence. Several people were also abducted during the raid, raising concerns that the final human toll could still rise as families search for missing relatives.
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu strongly condemned the attack, describing it as “heinous and unacceptable.” In a statement released on Monday, the presidency said Tinubu had ordered security agencies to hunt down those responsible and ensure the rescue of all abducted victims. He also directed the military, police, and intelligence services to reinforce security in the affected areas to prevent further violence.
Niger State officials said the attackers arrived in large numbers on motorcycles, a tactic commonly associated with armed bandit groups operating across north-central and north-western Nigeria. These groups have increasingly targeted rural communities, markets, and transport routes, exploiting weak security presence and difficult terrain.
A spokesperson for the Niger State government confirmed that shops were looted and food supplies destroyed during the raid, worsening the humanitarian situation for local residents. Markets in rural Nigeria often serve as critical economic and social hubs, and attacks on them not only cause loss of life but also disrupt livelihoods and food distribution chains.
Security analysts note that Niger State has become increasingly vulnerable due to its proximity to states plagued by banditry and insurgent activity. While the region is not traditionally associated with jihadist insurgency like the northeast, criminal gangs have expanded their operations southwards in recent years, capitalising on porous borders between states and limited rural policing.
The latest violence comes amid growing public frustration over persistent insecurity despite repeated government assurances. Communities in Niger State and neighbouring areas have repeatedly called for stronger military presence, better intelligence gathering, and improved protection for rural settlements that are often left exposed.
Human rights groups and civil society organisations have urged the federal government to move beyond reactive military deployments and address the root causes of banditry, including poverty, youth unemployment, and the proliferation of small arms. They also called for support for victims, many of whom have lost family members, homes, and sources of income.
Meanwhile, security forces have launched a manhunt for the attackers, with checkpoints reinforced along key roads and joint patrols deployed to surrounding villages. Authorities say investigations are ongoing to determine whether the attack was carried out by a known bandit faction or a newly emerging group.
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