For the families of the victims of the January 3 terrorist attack on Kasuwan Daji Market, the trauma may never fade. What began as a regular market day in Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State, descended into a nightmare of screams and chaos. Survivors recount the horror of seeing their loved ones struck down as suspected bandits moved through the market, leaving destruction and fear in their wake. ABU NMODU reports.
Residents of Kasuwan Daji in Borgu local government area, Niger State, are still reeling after a brutal terrorist attack on Saturday, January 3, 2026, that claimed the lives of 30 people. Eyewitnesses and bereaved family members have narrated scenes of panic, bloodshed, and desperate flight, painting a grim picture of fear and devastation that has gripped the community.
One can only imagine the screams and wailing that filled the air at the Kasuwan Daji Market as suspected bandits, believed to be operating from the Kainji National Park forest near Kabe district, moved through the stalls, opening fire on innocent men and women, majorly breadwinners who had gone out to earn a living for their families.
Shops were looted, the market set ablaze, and fear now hangs over the entire community. When visited the community, it discovered that many residents have fled their homes, unsure if safety will ever return despite repeated assurances from authorities.
The attack left a trail of blood and destruction beyond the market itself. In the surrounding villages, 12 more people were slaughtered, and dozens were abducted as the assailants rampaged unchecked. Grieving families have described scenes of the unimaginable horror, as homes were ransacked and prized possessions destroyed, leaving survivors struggling to comprehend the scale of the violence.
In spite of the fact that local authorities and security operatives have been called upon to respond, the community remains on edge, with whispers of more attacks circulating among the frightened residents. The once-bustling Kasuwan Daji Market, a vital hub of trade and social life, now stands in ruins, a stark reminder of the terror that erupted in broad daylight.
The incident at Kasuwan Daji, located at the borders of Borgu and Agwara local government areas is just a few kilometres from Papiri, where children and staff of St Mary Catholic School were abducted recently brought back harrowing memories for villagers in both areas. Many recalled the emotional trauma their children endured before being released last month.
Families of the victims who pleaded anonymity told our reporter that the casualty of the attack, which now stands at 45 deaths, was both dastardly and cruel.
For them, beyond the heartbreak of losing loved ones, residents are grappling with the uncertainty surrounding family members who were abducted, as well as the destruction of property looted and set ablaze during the assault.
On the mode of operation of the terrorists, Mallam Farouk Musa from Borgu said that “they come from the Kainji National Park and game reserve forest, move through the Kabe Hills, attack the villagers, and then vanish into the forest, leaving the villagers to pick up the pieces.”
A woman popularly known as Madam Titi, who owns a shop in the market, said she lost four of her relatives in the attack on Kasuwan Daji, forcing her and other villagers to relocate. She said in an interview: “They killed four of my family members. We had to abandon the village and run away. We don’t know what to do. There is nobody left in our compound now. We are up to 100 people living in the same house where we have relocated to, in a neighbouring town in Kofanti. It is safer for us.”
Madam Titi added that her village, Babelu, close to Kasuwan Daji, saw no fewer than 42 villagers killed on that fateful day. She recalled that at the market, they were caught completely off guard, shot at randomly, and that she barely escaped the bandits’ bullets and possible abduction by quickly going into hiding. By the time she returned, 30 bodies were counted dead in the market.
“They also went into the villages, tied people’s hands, and slaughtered our people like animals. At least 12 of them were killed like that,” Titi recalled.
She called on the government to provide adequate security for the area, saying, “Only when that is done can we go back home. For now, there is danger everywhere, and there is no guarantee they will not come back.”
“How do you expect me to be alright going back to that village when I just buried four of my relatives, those I eat, sleep, and wake up with?” she asked rhetorically, adding that the lack of security presence, even after the Papiri attack, made it easier for the bandits to repeatedly overrun the villages.
Another villager, Dauda Baka-Aure, said he also lost four of his relatives during the attack on Kasuwan Daji Market, prompting him and other residents to relocate to Kofanti, a safer community.
“Now we are in this neighbouring village, where we sleep outside. We abandoned our village to become beggars, sleeping in the cold,” he told LEADERSHIP Weekend. He added that the few rooms provided by their hosts were reserved for the children, while the adults had to sleep outside in the harsh weather.
Painting a similarly gruesome picture of the attack, Dauda said the bandits opened fire at the market and went into surrounding villages, slaughtering people “like animals.”
He called on the government to take deliberate action and find a lasting solution to the repeated attacks, saying, “We are truly traumatised.”
Another market woman, Asebe, recounted her ordeal: “I was in my shop when I heard gunshots. I ran for my life, but by the time I returned after the bandits left, I saw some of the people who were just alive a moment ago lying in pools of their blood. It was unbelievable. People were going about their usual business, and the next minute you saw them like that.”
Mallam Umar Kwana said none of his relatives were directly killed during the attack, but five of his children were among the scores abducted from the market. “Some people from our area were slaughtered by the terrorists. I am very sad. Five of my children have been abducted. When the bandits came, there was confusion everywhere, and later I could not find my children. It is clear they were taken into the forest with the others abducted from the market,” he said.
The director of Communications for the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Reverend Father Matthew Kabirat, confirmed the severity of the situation, noting that
parishioners and priests are also relocating due to fear of further attacks.
He added, “As I am talking to you, our parishioners and priests are leaving for fear of possible attacks. The security personnel who came after the incident cannot be found, and there are no signs of help for the people. These terrorists had a field day, and our people are moving from that axis for fear of either being killed or kidnapped.”
Reverend Kabirat said the attackers did not only kill but also abducted an unknown number of women and children and set the market ablaze. “The fire was so intense that the smoke could be seen 15 kilometres away at Papiri,” he said.
A villager, who gave his name as Abuka, said communities in Papiri, Kwana, and Tugan Salama, both in Agwara and Borgu local government areas were living in constant fear. He said, “Between Sunday, December 28, 2025, and Saturday, January 3, 2026, this group of bandits roamed freely without being challenged. The Papiri school children, who were recently released from captivity, including my daughter, have been further traumatised, forced to hide whenever the terrorists are nearby, both day and night.”
He added, “People are evacuating the area in large numbers, abandoning their homes and property.”
The Niger State Police public relations officer, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attack, stating that security forces were on the trail of the terrorists. However, he provided no updates on the rescue of the abducted victims or any arrests made.
Similarly, the Niger State government extended condolences to the families of the victims and assured the public that it was working to prevent further attacks, pledging to collaborate with the federal government to bring the perpetrators to justice. Yet, for now, villagers continue to live in fear, mourning their killed and abducted family members.
It was reports that despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for security agencies to coordinate an immediate manhunt to rescue the abducted victims, the situation in the affected communities remains precarious and in urgent need of attention.
The escalating insecurity has also drawn the concern of the Son of the late Emir of Borgu, Murtala Haliru Dantoro, who appealed directly to President Tinubu to rescue the people of the Borgu Emirate, reminding him of his traditional title, Jagaban Borgu.
The prince said the persistent killings and insecurity in Borgu and Agwara local government areas, which comprise the Emirate, had reached an unbearable level, leaving residents in constant fear. “I am deeply troubled by the continuous loss of innocent lives in our communities. Families are being torn apart, livelihoods destroyed, and our people are gradually losing hope in the ability of leadership to protect them,” he said.
He urged both President Tinubu and Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago to intervene urgently and provide lasting solutions. “Our people deserve to live without fear, to farm their lands, and to sleep peacefully in their homes. This is not just a local crisis; it is a humanitarian emergency that demands immediate and decisive action from the highest levels of government,” he added.
The accounts reflect the deep frustration and anguish of the once peaceful Borgu Emirate, a region of strategic national importance that hosts major investments, including Nigeria’s foremost hydroelectric dam.
Therefore reiterate that as the smoke clears over Kasuwan Daji and surrounding villages, the grief, fear, and displacement linger, painting a stark reminder of the human cost of insecurity in Niger State.
Families mourn the loss of loved ones, communities struggle to rebuild, and the shadow of further attacks hangs over every home and market.
The urgent call for decisive action, from local authorities to the highest levels of government, resounds louder than ever, for the safety, dignity, and future of the Borgu Emirate and its people depend on it.
The Ogun State Police Command has launched an investigation into allegations of farmland destruction, criminal intimidation and suspected land grabbing in Ajogbo Akia community of the state.
The investigation followed media reports on concerns raised by the traditional leadership and residents of the community over alleged activities of suspected land grabbers.
The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Bode Ojajuni, ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the allegations.
According to the command on X on Friday, the investigation aims to establish the facts, identify those responsible for any criminal acts, and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.
“The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Bode Ojajuni, has ordered an immediate, comprehensive investigation into the allegations to ascertain the true facts, identify perpetrators, and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice,” the Command said.
The police, however, clarified that disputes relating to land titles, ownership claims and boundary adjustments remain civil matters and should be resolved through competent courts of law.
The command explained that individuals with legitimate title and statutory documentation establishing land ownership can still approach the Police when criminal acts are allegedly committed against them.
“Where a party possesses legitimate title and statutory documentation of land ownership but suffers any criminal act such as malicious damage to crops, destruction of property, criminal trespass, or threats to life; the law gives such individuals the right to report these acts to the Police for thorough investigation and possible prosecution,” the statement added.
As part of measures to prevent a breakdown of law and order, the Command has also directed Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers with jurisdiction over the area to deploy high-visibility patrols and intelligence assets to Ajogbo Akia and adjoining agricultural corridors.
The Police said the patrol teams would maintain a strong presence in the area, both day and night, to enable farmers and residents to access their farmlands and conduct their lawful activities without fear of violence, harassment or unlawful interference.
“The Ogun State Police Command reiterates its zero-tolerance stance against illegal land grabbing, self-help, and threats to life,” the Command stated.
The police also commended the traditional ruler of the community, Baale Dr. Oluwasegun Adebiyi, and other community leaders for seeking law-enforcement intervention instead of resorting to violence.
The command urged residents and members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding, while calling for cooperation with investigators through the provision of credible and actionable information.
The police said such cooperation would assist the investigation and contribute to ensuring lasting peace in Ajogbo Akia and across Ogun State.
The Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser Tactical Team, has dismantled a Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist camp in the Kopre Mountain area of Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
The operation, conducted in the early hours of Wednesday, followed credible intelligence on the activities of the terrorists in the area.
Some of the terrorists killed
Photo: Nigerian Army
Troops of Operation Hadin Kai reportedly engaged the terrorists in two separate encounters, neutralising more than 21 of them, while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
According to the military, on X on Thursday, the troops also destroyed the terrorists’ logistics infrastructure and recovered several AK-47 rifles, magazines and a substantial quantity of 7.62mm ammunition.
Motorcycles, bicycles and jerrycans containing Premium Motor Spirit were also destroyed.
The Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Captain Mohammed Goni, said the operation was part of efforts to rescue victims abducted from the Mussa community and the Lassa area.
Ammunition recovered by the Nigerian Army Photo: Nigerian Army
“The Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, remains resolute in sustaining aggressive, intelligence-driven operations aimed at locating and rescuing abducted persons, dismantling terrorist strongholds, degrading their logistics and fighting capabilities,” Goni said.
He added that search and rescue operations were being intensified until all abducted persons were located and rescued.
The military high command commended the troops and the ONSA Tactical Team for their “gallantry, professionalism, resilience and seamless coordination,” saying the operation further demonstrated the forces’ ability to project combat power into difficult terrain and deny terrorists freedom of action.
Justice Friday Ogazi of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to produce Lagos social media influencer and businessman Kazeem Afolabi, popularly known as “KC Luxury”, before the court following his alleged 14-day detention without a formal charge.
The order was made on Thursday in an ex parte application filed by Afolabi through his counsel, A. Labi-Lawal, SAN, pursuant to the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009.
The court also directed the NDLEA to respond within five days to the application challenging Afolabi’s continued detention and to show cause why he should not be released or admitted to bail.
Afolabi was allegedly arrested by NDLEA operatives on August 13, 2026, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while preparing to travel to Paris.
His father, Eric Afolabi, who deposed to the affidavit in support of the application, alleged that the applicant had remained in the custody of the NDLEA since his arrest without being informed of the offence for which he was arrested or being charged before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Following the hearing of the ex-parte application, Justice Ogazi ordered the applicant to serve the NDLEA with the motion, enrolled order and other accompanying processes within four working days.
The judge directed the agency to file its response within five days of service and produce Afolabi before the court on the next adjourned date for the hearing of the substantive originating motion.
The matter was adjourned until September 9, 2026, for hearing.
In the substantive application, Afolabi is seeking declarations that his continued detention without a formal charge is unconstitutional and amounts to a violation of his fundamental rights guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.
He is also seeking an order directing the NDLEA to release him immediately or, in the alternative, admit him to bail on liberal terms pending the filing of any charge against him.
The applicant alleged that NDLEA operatives arrested and detained him after intercepting him at the airport.
He further alleged that, following his arrest, operatives of the agency searched his residence at Movamo Court, Banana Island, Lagos, without showing him or members of his family a search warrant.
According to the affidavit, the operatives searched the premises but allegedly recovered nothing incriminating.
Afolabi also alleged that the operatives seized his iPhone 15 and demanded the password to the device, allegedly threatening him with bodily harm if he refused to disclose it.
He maintained that the phone contained private information belonging to him and his wife and that the search of the device allegedly revealed no narcotics, drug-related transactions, communications or other material connecting him with any offence.
The applicant further alleged that the NDLEA took and circulated photographs and videos of him while in custody, portraying him as a criminal despite the absence of a conviction.
He contended that the alleged publication violated his constitutional rights to dignity and privacy and subjected him to ridicule, embarrassment and humiliation.
Consequently, he is asking for N100m for damages over the alleged taking and circulation of his photographs and videos.
He is also demanding N50m for alleged unlawful arrest and detention and N40m for alleged invasion of the privacy of his home and telephone.
Afolabi is also seeking an order directing the NDLEA to return properties allegedly seized from him.
The items listed in the application include €8,000, £3,000, a blue-strap Patek Philippe Nautilus wristwatch, an Audemars Piguet wristwatch with three bangles, a Hermès handbag, a Hermès Birkin travel bag, a Louis Vuitton travel box, an iPhone 15, a Lexus RX350 and a 2024 Toyota Hilux.
He maintained that none of the properties was acquired from the proceeds of narcotics or any other criminal activity.
The applicant also raised concerns about his medical condition, alleging that he suffers from acute and severe asthma requiring urgent treatment and management which, he claimed, the facility where he is being detained is unable to adequately provide.
He further told the court that he has a permanent address in Lagos, strong family and business ties within Nigeria and is prepared to surrender his international passport and comply with any bail conditions imposed by the court.
The NDLEA, according to the processes before the court, linked Afolabi’s arrest to an investigation arising from the interception of 184.50kg of cocaine allegedly connected to an international drug trafficking network.
The agency alleged that the network used Nigeria as a transit point for cocaine shipments destined for the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.
It further alleged that the investigation resulted in the seizure of foreign currencies and luxury items and prompted searches connected with the applicant.
