Armed bandits kill one and kidnap several in coordinated raids on Niger State’s Agwara and Mashegu areas, targeting churches and clinics.
Newsroom (03/02/2026 Gaudium Press ) Fear and grief gripped parts of Niger State on Sunday, February 1, 2026, as armed bandits launched coordinated assaults on communities within the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora. The attacks, spanning the Agwara and Mashegu Local Government Areas, left one person dead and several others abducted, according to a statement issued Monday by the Diocese’s Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Matthew Stephen Kabirat.
Fr. Kabirat described the assault as “a coordinated and devastating strike” that plunged residents into panic in the early morning hours. In Agwara town, the attackers began their rampage by setting ablaze a police station, severely damaging the facility before turning to private residences.
Their next target was the home of Mr. Ahmed Burade, where they abducted his wife, sister-in-law, and three children. Burade narrowly escaped capture after police operatives attempted to repel the armed assailants. The abductors, however, escaped into the night with the hostages, leaving behind smoldering debris and terrified residents.
The attackers then set fire to the United Missionary Church of Africa (UMCA) building in Agwara, further intensifying the trauma felt across the community. “Many residents have fled their homes, hiding in nearby bushes and surrounding areas out of fear of further violence,” Fr. Kabirat reported. He added that the situation remained “tense, with widespread anxiety and uncertainty,” as residents called on authorities to secure their release and restore calm.
A similar pattern of violence unfolded in Tungan Gero, Mashegu Local Government Area, around 2:00 a.m. the same day. Once considered a peaceful settlement, Tungan Gero turned into what witnesses described as “a scene of terror.” The attackers reportedly advanced on a Catholic convent attached to the Tungan Gero Clinic, both owned by the Kontagora Catholic Diocese.
On hearing sustained gunfire, the Religious Sisters stationed at the convent fled into nearby bushes as the bandits closed in. Unable to reach them, the attackers vandalized the Diocese-run clinic, scattering medical equipment and destroying vital facilities. During the chaos, travellers passing along the main road were ambushed—one passenger was killed, and several others were abducted. Among the kidnapped was Mr. Ishaya Bawa, the clinic’s gatekeeper, whose abduction heightened fears among local residents and healthcare workers.
Eyewitnesses said the armed men continued their rampage by attacking the UMCA Church in Tungan Gero, capturing more people before retreating hours later. “They operated freely for several hours before withdrawing, leaving behind destruction, fear, and sorrow,” Fr. Kabirat said, lamenting that the deliberate targeting of a Catholic convent had struck at the heart of a community devoted to humanitarian and healthcare service.
The latest series of assaults underscores the deepening insecurity confronting Nigeria’s north-central region, particularly within the Kontagora Catholic Diocese. The Diocese has faced repeated attacks in recent months; on December 28, 2025, at least 42 people were killed, and an unknown number of women and children were abducted in similarly coordinated raids.
As calls intensify for government intervention, communities across Niger State remain on edge. With places of worship and healthcare facilities increasingly under threat, residents fear that the cycle of violence may persist until meaningful security reforms and rescue operations are undertaken.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from ACi Africa
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