Posted inHome
Bandits
Borgu emirate under siege as terrorists overrun Niger communities, forests
Communities across Borgu and Agwara Local Government Areas of Niger State are facing a deepening security crisis.
News agency reports that coordinated attacks, killings, abductions, and arson continue to spread across the northern corridor of the state.
What was once dismissed as “banditry” is increasingly recognised as organised terrorism, with armed groups operating from forest corridors and the Kainji National Park, which borders Kwara State and the Republic of Benin.
From Papiri in Agwara LGA to Wawa and Babanna in Borgu Emirate, attackers strike farms, schools, markets, churches, and security formations before retreating into forest hideouts. Residents live in constant fear, unable to sleep with two eyes closed.
21 November 2025: Papiri School Kidnapping Draws National and International Attention
On 21 November 2025, suspected terrorists stormed St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara LGA, abducting students and staff in the early hours. The attack drew national and international attention, highlighting the growing reach of terror groups.
Former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Jonathan Vatsa, warned: “What is happening in Papiri and Borgu requires a military base, not just police patrols.”
23 November 2025 and 4 January 2026: Governor Bago Visits
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago visited Borgu Emirate to sympathise with victims on 23 November 2025 following the Papiri school abduction) and again on 4 January 2026 after deadly attacks in Kasuwan Daji and surrounding areas, where 42 persons were killed.
He met mainly with Emir Alhaji Mohammed Haliru Dantoro IV, and community leaders, expressing deep sadness and extending condolences to affected families.
Residents, however, criticised the visits.
“He met the Emir and leaders but not the widows, the orphans, or the people whose houses were burnt, as other governors did in the country when faced with such a situation” a local leader said.
They were also angered by the directive of Bago asking people living near the Kainji National Park to relocate, within two months with no plans, houses, or support provided for them even as attacks continue unabated as well as further fueled by his comments that some residents are informants to the assailants in the emirate.
Residents further alleged that hours after Bago’s second visit (4 January 2026), attackers killed an 85-year-old woman when they attacked Kebe community, showing that relocation orders alone do not guarantee safety.
“After the visit, attacks increased. We have not seen any noticeable move by the army or police to change the situation, and attacks are increasing,” a resident, Musa Ado added.
During his visits, Governor Bago assured residents that his administration remained committed to addressing the security challenges, pledging to improve intelligence gathering and security deployment in the affected areas:
“We are committed to ensuring the safety of our people. Security agencies will be strengthened, and necessary measures will be taken to crush terrorism in Borgu Emirate,” he stated.
January 2026: Wawa Killings
In January 2026, armed men attacked the Wawa community in Borgu LGA.
One youth was killed on his farm, and seven youths ultimately lost their lives, while others fled.
A youth leader of one of the local groups, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “The situation in Borgu Emirate is terrible. Most people sleep in one shirt and the next moment flee their homes in one dress when attacks start. We can no longer sleep with two eyes closed.
“Many are afraid to speak because if you talk, they will come for you. It is either they kill you or whisk you away for ransom.”
He added, “There are attacks isolated almost daily. You only hear when it is big. We are really living in fear. The killing of seven of our youths in the Wawa community recently is another painful experience for our people.”
1 February 2026: Agwara Church and Police Station Attacked
On 1 February 2026, assailants stormed Agwara town, burning the United Missionary Church of Africa (UMCA) and the local police station while abducting residents.
Security sources reported that the attackers struck in the early hours and retreated into forest corridors.
A tactical police team engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, but the attackers overpowered the officers and reportedly used dynamites to attack the police station.
Against this background, the Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman disclosed that additional reinforcements have been deployed to support the tactical team, complete with operational assets:
“We are not leaving the location. We are still maintaining the ground, as another temporary operational base is being established for the men. More effort is being intensified to ensure the visibility of the Police tactical team is sustained in the area,” CP Elleman said.
The update was confirmed by Niger State Police PRO, SP Wasiu Abiodun, when contacted by news agency.
After the attack, Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Bishop Bulus Yohanna, stated, “The people of Borgu Emirate are suffering. Terrorists are taking over communities, churches are being attacked, and innocent lives are at risk.
“The federal and state authorities must urgently deploy security to protect lives and restore peace.”
Dr. Murtala Haliru Dantoro: Calls for Federal Action
Dr. Murtala Haliru Dantoro, son of the late Emir of Borgu, Senator Haliru Dantoro, Kitoro III called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, NSA Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Minister of Defence, the IGP, and the Conservator-General of National Parks to intervene urgently.
Invoking Tinubu’s traditional title, he said,” Jagaban Borgu is the title my late father gave President Tinubu. How can he carry such a big title and allow terrorists to take over his kingdom?
“Borgu is bleeding. Jagaban Borgu should rescue his friend’s people and the Jagaban title has added to his popularity and recognition and he knows it and he was my late father’s best friend.”
On Kainji National Park, he said, “It has no animals living there. It has outlived its usefulness and now harbours criminals. They use the forest bordering Kwara State and Benin Republic to launch attacks and retreat.”
Murtala also criticised the Conservator-General of National Park Service, Mohammed Kabir who hails from Borgu emirate for neglecting the park,and failing the people of Borgu in the face of security crisis.
According to him, “The government should not allow such a vast area to lie fallow. From Ibbi to Borgu and from Babanna to Lunma is a large expanse of unused land, and that is why criminals have taken over.”
He urged Governor Bago to convert the land to Niger Foods agriculture insisting, ” If Governor Bago turns that land for his agricultural initiative, he will print his name in gold. It will create jobs, bring investors and stabilise insecurity.”
Speaking on the security deployment, he further noted that: “There is an army base, but what happens is reactionary. We need proactive intelligence operations. NSA should coordinate inter-agency actions. Police, army and vigilantes must work together within the communities.”
On informants, the prince of Borgu kingdom maintained, ” Some give information to terrorists out of poverty and lack of fear of God.”
Historical Context: Aliyu and Bello Warnings
Former Governor Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (2007–2015) stated that he dislodged suspected Boko Haram elements from Mokwa in 2010, preventing them from establishing a foothold in Niger State.
Recall in April 2021, former Governor Abubakar Sani Bello had confirmed that Boko Haram elements had hoisted their flag in Kaure village, Shiroro LGA of Niger State, and were attempting to establish territory there.
He warned that the insurgents’ presence so close to the nation’s capital meant that “if care is not taken, not even Abuja is safe.”
From Papiri to Wawa and Babanna-Federal Intervention Needed
From Papiri in Agwara to Wawa and Babanna in Borgu Emirate, communities are no longer facing isolated crime but organised terror rooted in forest hideouts.
Residents insist the solution must include: Federal takeover and clearing of Kainji National Park, permanent military deployment, Intelligence-driven operations and conversion of idle land to Niger Foods agriculture.
Only decisive federal action can reclaim these forests and restore peace before terror permanently reshapes the kingdom.
Post navigation
Previous Post
Bandits kill 30 in fresh Katsina, Kwara attacks
excellent publish, very informative. I ponder why the opposite specialists of this sector don’t notice this.
You should proceed your writing. I am sure,
you’ve a huge readers’ base already!
I blog often and I truly appreciate your content. This great
article has truly peaked my interest. I am going to book mark your
site and keep checking for new information about once a week.
I opted in for your Feed as well.
Hiya very nice site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Wonderful ..
I’ll bookmark your website and take the feeds additionally?
I’m satisfied to search out numerous helpful information here in the publish,
we need work out extra strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing.
. . . . .
I’ve been exploring for a bit for any high-quality articles
or blog posts in this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I eventually stumbled upon this website.
Reading this info So i’m satisfied to show that I’ve an incredibly good uncanny feeling I found out just what
I needed. I so much indisputably will make sure to don?t
overlook this website and provides it a glance regularly.
Thanks to my father who informed me on the topic of this weblog, this webpage is really awesome.
Hey there! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a
quick shout out and say I really enjoy reading your posts.
Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same topics?
Thanks!
Great website you have here but I was curious about if you knew of any message boards that
cover the same topics discussed here? I’d really love
to be a part of online community where I can get comments from other experienced
people that share the same interest. If you have any
suggestions, please let me know. Appreciate it!
Hi to every one, since I am really keen of reading this webpage’s post to be updated
regularly. It includes fastidious data.
Incredible! This blog looks exactly like my old one!
It’s on a totally different subject but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Wonderful choice of colors!
Great beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your web site, how could i subscribe
for a blog site? The account aided me a acceptable deal.
I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided
bright clear idea
When someone writes an article he/she retains the idea of a
user in his/her brain that how a user can understand it. So that’s
why this piece of writing is outstdanding. Thanks!
Hello there! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO?
I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good success.
If you know of any please share. Thanks!
Hello, Neat post. There is a problem along with your web site in internet explorer,
may check this? IE still is the marketplace chief and a good component of folks will
omit your wonderful writing because of this problem.
Hello there! This post could not be written any better!
Reading through this post reminds me of my previous
room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this write-up to
him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
Excellent post. I certainly appreciate this site. Keep writing!
Normally I don’t learn post on blogs, however I
would like to say that this write-up very compelled me to try and do so!
Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thank you, very nice post.
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
Look advanced to far added agreeable from you!
By the way, how could we communicate?
I have read so many content about the blogger lovers however this article is truly a nice article, keep it up.
Hey there! I know this is kind of off topic but I was
wondering which blog platform are you using for this site?
I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had issues with hackers
and I’m looking at options for another platform. I
would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of a
good platform.
certainly like your website but you need to test the spelling on several of your posts.
A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I
in finding it very troublesome to tell the reality nevertheless I will definitely come
back again.
Hello! I understand this is somewhat off-topic however I needed to
ask. Does operating a well-established blog such as yours
require a large amount of work? I am brand new to writing a
blog however I do write in my diary every day. I’d like to start a
blog so I can easily share my experience and views online.
Please let me know if you have any kind of ideas or tips for new aspiring bloggers.
Thankyou!
What’s up colleagues, how is all, and what you
desire to say regarding this piece of writing,
in my view its truly awesome in support of me.
Asking questions are actually nice thing if you are not understanding anything completely, except this
article gives pleasant understanding even.
Hello there! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I genuinely enjoy
reading your blog posts. Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums that cover the same topics?
Thanks a lot!
Wow that was strange. I just wrote an extremely long comment but after I clicked submit my
comment didn’t appear. Grrrr… well I’m not writing
all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say fantastic blog!
Wonderful blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News.
Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
Appreciate it
great points altogether, you simply gained a new reader.
What might you suggest in regards to your put up that you made a few days in the past?
Any positive?
Do you have a spam issue on this website; I also am a blogger, and I was curious about your situation; we have created some nice procedures and we are looking to exchange solutions with others, why not shoot me an e-mail
if interested.
This article will assist the internet visitors for creating new web
site or even a weblog from start to end.
It’s remarkable to go to see this website and reading the views of all mates concerning this piece of writing, while I
am also zealous of getting familiarity.
With havin so much content and articles do you ever run into any problems of plagorism
or copyright infringement? My site has a lot of completely unique
content I’ve either authored myself or outsourced but it seems a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my authorization. Do you know
any methods to help protect against content from being stolen? I’d genuinely appreciate it.
I visited several web pages but the audio quality for
audio songs existing at this web site is really marvelous.
Today, I went to the beach front with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my
4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She
placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off
topic but I had to tell someone!
Excellent beat ! I wish to apprentice even as you
amend your web site, how could i subscribe for a weblog web site?
The account aided me a applicable deal. I had been tiny bit familiar of this your broadcast offered vivid transparent idea
Awesome post.
Hi! Someone in my Facebook group shared this
website with us so I came to look it over. I’m definitely loving
the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
Terrific blog and great design and style.
Excellent site you have got here.. It’s hard to find
high-quality writing like yours nowadays.
I honestly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!!
Hey very interesting blog!
Pretty nice post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wished to mention that I’ve really loved surfing
around your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing on your rss feed
and I hope you write again very soon!
Because the admin of this web page is working, no uncertainty very quickly it will be renowned,
due to its quality contents.
I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this
post was good. I don’t know who you are but definitely you
are going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
Generally I don’t learn post on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very compelled me to take a look at
and do it! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thanks, very nice article.
I read this post completely concerning the resemblance of hottest and
earlier technologies, it’s amazing article.
It’s going to be ending of mine day, but before ending I
am reading this impressive article to improve my know-how.
Highly energetic article, I liked that bit. Will there be a part 2?
Post writing is also a excitement, if you be familiar with then you can write otherwise it is complicated to
write.
I used to be recommended this blog by way of my cousin. I’m not positive whether this
publish is written via him as nobody else understand such targeted approximately
my problem. You are amazing! Thank you!
Hello there, I discovered your web site by the use of Google while searching for a comparable subject, your
website got here up, it seems great. I’ve bookmarked it
in my google bookmarks.
Hi there, just turned into aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is really informative.
I’m going to be careful for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you happen to continue this
in future. Numerous other folks might be benefited out of your writing.
Cheers!
I blog quite often and I genuinely thank you for your information. This article has truly peaked
my interest. I’m going to book mark your website and keep checking for new details about once per week.
I opted in for your Feed as well.
Hey would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re utilizing?
I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different browsers and
I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most.
Can you suggest a good hosting provider at a honest price?
Kudos, I appreciate it!