Niger Community Left in Chaos After Bandits Burn Police Station and Church Building

Suspected armed bandits launched a violent assault on the Agwara area of Niger State in the early hours of Sunday, leaving residents in shock as security and religious sites were targeted.

According to the Niger State Police Command, the attackers stormed the local police station at around 3:40 a.m., engaging officers on duty before overwhelming them and using explosives to set the station ablaze.

After burning the police facility, the gunmen moved on to the United Methodist Church in the community, where part of the building was also set on fire.

Officers say the assailants later went through other parts of the town and abducted about five residents, whose identities have not yet been confirmed.

Security agencies have begun investigations and are working to locate those kidnapped while increasing efforts to apprehend the attackers.