Fresh terror attacks have struck Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger State, leaving one person dead, five others abducted, and key public and religious facilities destroyed, deepening concerns over the deteriorating security situation in the area.
During the attack, assailants set ablaze the United Missionary Church of Africa (UMCA) in Agwarra and torched the local police station, reportedly using explosives.
The attackers were also said to have looted food items and other valuables before killing an elderly woman in nearby Kabe town and abducting five residents.
Sources reported that the church was attacked at about 6 a.m., after which the terrorists advanced to Sokonba village, which borders Kabe, a community that has come under repeated attacks in recent times.
Reacting to the incident, Murtala Dantoro, son of the late Emir, described the attacks as part of a growing pattern that has plunged once-peaceful communities into fear and displacement.
“Innocent lives are being lost, farmers are abandoning their farmlands, economic activities have collapsed, and families are forced to flee their homes in search of safety,” Dantoro said.
“These attacks are not isolated incidents; they are persistent and escalating. The absence of a permanent and well-equipped military formation in Agwarra has left the people vulnerable and exposed.
“The state and federal governments must come to our aid urgently before these terrorists chase us out of our homeland.”
He warned that the continued absence of a permanent security presence had emboldened criminals, worsening both the humanitarian and economic crises in the area, and cautioned that Agwarra’s neglect posed serious risks to neighbouring communities.
Adding his voice, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, issued a strong appeal to the Federal Government and security agencies to establish a permanent military formation in Agwarra.
“This is not a luxury; it is a necessity,” the bishop said. “A visible, stationed military presence will deter criminal activities, restore confidence among residents, enable displaced persons to return home, and allow farmers to safely return to their farms.
“Enough is enough. The people of Agwarra deserve peace, protection, and the right to live without fear. Security is the foundation of development, and without it, no meaningful progress can be achieved.”
He further lamented what he described as the collapse of law and order in parts of Borgu Emirate, adding, “These terrorists now move freely without challenge. Presently, the rule of law no longer functions in Borgu and its axis.
“As I speak, these terrorists are gradually turning the once-peaceful Borgu Emirate into a ‘terrorist emirate’ by killing people, forcing many to flee, and coercing some into becoming informants.”
Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command confirmed the attack. Its spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, said police operatives engaged the attackers before being overpowered.
“On February 1, 2026, at about 3.40 am, bandits invaded Agwarra community and attacked the police station, where they were engaged by the tactical team on the ground,” Abiodun said.
“The attackers overpowered the team and used suspected dynamite to set the station ablaze. The terrorists later moved to the UMC church in the community, burnt part of the church, proceeded to other areas, and abducted about five persons whose identities are yet to be ascertained. Monitoring continues.”
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