Terrorists massacre 35 in Niger state village raid

KASUWAN DAJI, Niger State – A brutal assault by terrorists has left at least 35 people dead and scores abducted in Kasuwan Daji, a rural community in Niger state.

The attack, which occurred on the evening of January 3, targeted a village located just 23 kilometers from Papiri, the site of a major school abduction last November.

The attackers, believed to be members of a Boko Haram faction, reportedly used a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) to signal their arrival. The “long bomb,” as described by a local traditional leader, sent panicked residents fleeing into nearby forests where they were pursued and killed.

Survivors and local sources provided harrowing accounts of the violence. One witness counted 35 bodies and said the victims – all male, aged between 12 and 70 – were executed in a chilling manner.

“Some of them were shot in the head, some were slaughtered,” a resident of Papiri who farms in the area told Premium Times. Visual evidence from the aftermath showed victims with their hands bound behind their backs, indicating summary executions.

Beyond the loss of life, the terrorists set fire to the village market and numerous residential buildings after looting food items and shops.

Police Confirmation

The Niger State Police Command confirmed the incident on Sunday. Spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun stated that preliminary reports indicate over 30 fatalities.

“On 03/01/2026 at about 9 p.m., information received revealed that… suspected bandits from the National Park forest along Kabe District invaded Kasuwan Daji,” Abiodun said. He added that a joint security team visited the scene on Sunday morning and that “efforts are ongoing to rescue the kidnapped victims.”

The massacre is the latest indication of how precariously volatile Niger State’s Borgu, Shiroro, and Agwara local government areas are. In late November 2025, authorities had ordered a closure of schools following the mass abduction of about 300 pupils and staff from St. Mary’s Catholic Schools in Papiri. While those victims were eventually released.

The latest violence comes just as the state government announced plans to partially reopen schools on January 12.

Editor’s Note: All quotes in this report, from witnesses and the Niger State Police Command spokesperson, were originally documented by Premium Times.