Borgu Residents Flee as Attacks Persist

Residents of several communities in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State have fled their homes following persistent attacks and abductions by armed groups.

The latest attack occurred on August 21, when suspected terrorists invaded communities in the Dekara District and abducted an unspecified number of worshippers during Jumu’at prayers.

While different figures have emerged, the Niger State Government and police have yet to confirm the exact number of people abducted, saying security agencies are still assessing the situation and gathering information from affected communities.

The attack has forced many residents to abandon their homes and farms, with some displaced persons reportedly fleeing to neighboring communities and across the border into Benin Republic.

Residents say repeated attacks have left them uncertain about returning, despite the deployment of security personnel to the area. Borgu and neighboring Agwara have suffered a series of deadly attacks and displacement this year, with humanitarian agencies also reporting severe access and security challenges across parts of the area.

Tension increased further days after the mosque attack when suspected bandits killed the village head of Galla, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf, and four others. Yusuf, a retired military officer, was the brother of the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago condemned the killing and called on security agencies to arrest and prosecute those responsible.

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has since visited Niger State and ordered intensified efforts to rescue the abducted worshippers. He also deployed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, Victor Olaiya, alongside a tactical team to support the operation.

However, residents say rescue operations alone are not enough.

They are calling for a permanent and sustained security presence across Borgu and neighboring communities, arguing that temporary deployments after attacks have failed to prevent further violence.

For many displaced residents, the key question is no longer only when those abducted will return, but whether security can be guaranteed before they are able to return safely to their homes and farms.