Terrorist Attack Claims Dozens of Lives in Niger Communities

Suspected terrorists have killed more than 40 people, including security operatives, vigilantes, and civilians, in coordinated attacks on several communities in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

The affected communities Bagna, Erena, and Yelwa were reportedly overrun by heavily armed attackers who also set homes ablaze, forcing residents to flee for safety.

Sources disclosed that about 30 special forces personnel and other security operatives, alongside at least 10 vigilantes, lost their lives during the incident. The attackers were said to have ambushed a joint camp shared by vigilantes and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), overpowering them with superior firepower.

A resident of Bagna, who spoke anonymously, described the scale of the assault, saying over 200 armed men stormed the community early Tuesday, burning houses with explosives and leaving thick smoke billowing across the area.

“It was a horrific scene. The entire community was engulfed in flames, and people had to run for their lives,” the source said.

Further reports indicated that several vigilantes were killed when their camp was set ablaze during attempts to repel the terrorist, while many others sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment.

The attack is believed to have followed an earlier incident on Monday, when they allegedly rustled cattle from Nada village in Shiroro before launching the deadly assault on nearby communities.

The Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Morris Magaji, confirmed the incident but did not provide an official casualty figure.

The latest violence adds to growing security concerns in Shiroro and other parts of Niger State, where communities have repeatedly come under attack by armed groups, leading to loss of lives and displacement of residents.