Terrorists struck again in Niger State in the early hours of Sunday, invading Agwara town, headquarters of Agwara Local Government Area, where they burnt the only police station and a church, and abducted several worshippers.
The attackers, who arrived in large numbers, also looted food items and household essentials after moving from house to house, throwing the town into panic and forcing residents to flee into nearby bushes for safety.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official confirmation of casualties.
Eyewitnesses said the terrorists invaded the town at about 2:00 a.m., parking their motorcycles outside the community before trekking in fully armed.
Their first target was the Agwara Police Station, located on the outskirts of the town. Witnesses said the attackers doused the building with petrol and set it ablaze after the officers on duty fled.
“The policemen had no choice but to run for their lives because of the number of the attackers,” an eyewitness told our correspondent by phone. It could not be immediately confirmed if arms or equipment were taken from the station.
After setting the police station on fire, the terrorists moved into the town and attacked the United African Missionary Church (UMCA), where worshippers were holding an end-of-the-month night vigil.
Several worshippers were abducted during the attack, while others escaped into the bush. The attackers reportedly gathered church benches, sprayed them with petrol, and set the church ablaze.
The assault triggered chaos across Agwara, with many residents still hiding in surrounding bushes hours after the attack.
Confirming the incident, Reverend Yakubu Yohanna of the UMCA said many residents were only beginning to return to the town.
“We are just coming back from our hiding places, but many people are still in the bush,” he said. “So far, no life has been lost, but we are waiting for our members to come out from hiding.”
Efforts to obtain official confirmation from the police and a response from the Niger State Government were unsuccessful as of press time.
Agwara Local Government Area has a history of mass abductions. In 2024, more than 230 teachers, pupils, and students were abducted from Papiri town within the same council area before they were eventually rescued by federal security forces.
Terrorists Strike Niger Again, Torch Police Station, Church, Abduct Worshippers
