Suspected bandits killed at least six people and abducted several others in attacks on communities in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger state, police said on Saturday, as residents reported a higher toll and the burning of public buildings including a police outpost.
The Niger State Police Command said the assailants struck Tunga-Makeri village in the early hours of Saturday, Valentine’s Day, setting houses on fire and taking an unspecified number of residents away.
“On 14/2/2026 at about 6 a.m., a report was received indicating that at about 3 a.m., suspected bandits invaded Tunga-Makeri village via Shafachi district, Borgu LGA,” police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said in a statement.
“During the attack, six people lost their lives. Some houses were also set ablaze, and a yet-to-be ascertained number of persons were abducted.”
He said the attackers were also reported to have moved toward nearby communities and that details were still being compiled.
Residents and eyewitnesses described a broader wave of violence across multiple villages, with casualty figures higher than the official police count. One resident, Mohammed Ibrahim, said the gunmen moved from Tunga-Makeri to Paso and Pisa areas, torching buildings and killing more villagers.
“They attacked other villages after meeting little resistance,” Ibrahim said, adding that several homes and a police outpost were burned. He said as many as 26 people may have been killed across the affected communities, though Reuters could not independently verify that figure.
Police confirmed the raid but did not immediately comment on reports that a police station was set ablaze.
Abiodun said a joint security team had been deployed to the area to assess the damage, secure communities and work to rescue those abducted. Security operations were ongoing, he added.
