Tag: Niger State

Niger: Bandits raze school despite collecting ₦10m levy 

Aminu Imam
Niger bandits raze school

Bandits have reportedly burnt a primary school in Dekara, Borgu local government area of Niger State, days after communities in the area allegedly raised and paid a ₦10 million levy demanded by the armed group. Residents said the attackers invaded the district headquarters on Wednesday and set the Central Primary School, Dekara ablaze. One resident, who requested anonymity, said the assailants emerged from the Kainji Lake National Park before storming the community. According to the source, the bandits had earlier imposed a ₦10 million levy on villages in the Dekara…

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Niger: Lakurawa fighters impose marriage rules in community, fix ₦1,500 bride price 

Aminu Imam
Lakurawa impose marriage rules

Residents of Zugurma community in Borgu local government area of Niger State are living in fear after suspected members of the Lakurawa terrorist group reportedly imposed a set of strict social and religious regulations, including ordering families to marry off girls aged 15 years and above and fixing bride price at ₦1,500. The development is the latest indication of the growing influence of the armed group in parts of Niger State, where communities have increasingly reported sightings of heavily armed Lakurawa fighters enforcing their version of Islamic law and social…

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Niger: Terrorists blow up bridge, kill 8 in fresh IED attacks

Aminu Imam
Niger terrorists attack

…Cut-off border communities  Suspected terrorists have destroyed a key bridge in Niger State and reportedly killed eight travellers in a separate explosion, escalating insecurity in the Borgu axis of the state. The bridge, located along Luma Road in Borgu Local Government Area, was bombed in the early hours of Monday in what authorities believe was a deliberate attempt to hinder the movement of security forces engaged in ongoing counter-insurgency operations. Local sources said the attack occurred around 2 a.m., targeting a vital link connecting the communities of Luma, Babana, and…

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“₦60m paid for abducted school kids’ release” – Bandit leader counters FG

Aminu Imam
Bandit leader counters FG

A bandit kingpin has punctured a denial by the Nigerian government that no ransom was paid for the release of some abducted schoolchildren in Niger State, insisting that they were paid the sum of ₦60 million before the girls were released. Recall that the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, had in a statement on Tuesday, dismissed reports which alleged that the government had paid a huge ransom and released militant commanders to secure the freedom of the pupils who were abducted from St. Mary’s Boarding School in Niger State in…

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‘Tinubu’s govt ‘paid ₦2bn to Boko Haram’ for release of Niger Catholic school students’ – Report

Aminu Imam
AFP Report on Tinubu’s govt.

Fresh controversy has trailed the December 2025 release of pupils and staff of St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State, Nigeria, following a report alleging that the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu paid N2 billion to secure their freedom from Boko Haram insurgents. According to AFP, which cited multiple intelligence sources, the terrorists initially demanded $7 million, said to be N40 million per captive, in exchange for the release of about 230 pupils and staff abducted from the school in November 2025. While the exact figure allegedly paid…

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Niger: Bandits slaughter 32 farmers, abduct scores in communities

Aminu Imam
Niger bandits

…Set homes ablaze  At least 32 farmers have reportedly been killed in a fresh wave of attacks by suspected bandits across several communities in Niger State, leaving many others abducted and numerous homes destroyed. Local sources said the attackers stormed farming settlements in the early hours, opening fire on residents and setting houses ablaze. Survivors described scenes of chaos as families fled into nearby bushes while armed men moved from house to house. Community leaders confirmed that dozens of residents remain missing, with fears that many may have been taken…

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Insecurity: CAN, Muslim community, Borgu emirate, urge Tinubu, Bago to end attacks, killings

Aminu Imam
CAN, Muslim community urge Tinubu

As part of efforts to live without fear, the Christian and Muslim communities across Borgu/Agwara LGAs of Niger State, in collaboration with the Borgu Emirate, have called on the Federal and Niger State governments to urgently address the incessant attacks, killings, and abduction of innocent citizens by terrorists. Addressing newsmen during a World Press Conference over the weekend in Suleja, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State Chapter, Most Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, appealed to the President Bola Tinubu-led government to establish a fully equipped military…

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Niger: 6 farmers killed, as bandits invade farmlands 

Aminu Imam
Bandits impose farming tax2

No fewer than six farmers were reportedly killed Friday night in a fresh attack by suspected bandits in Unguwar Wawa community, located in Borgu LGA of Niger State. This was disclosed in a post on X yesterday by Bakatsine, a conflict and crisis journalist who reports on insecurity in the North-West region. According to the report, the assailants stormed the community at approximately 10:00 p.m. opening fire on farmers who were working on their farmlands. Following the attack, the bandits fled the scene, leaving residents in a state of fear…

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Gov. Bago receives 130 rescued Papiri students, teachers

Aminu Imam
Bago receives rescued students

…Says their ordeal painful, heartbreaking Niger state governor, Umaru Bago yesterday expressed excitement over rescue of 130 rescued pupils and teachers abducted some weeks ago from St. Mary’s Catholic Private Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Niger State. While expressing appreciation to God for the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers, Bago, nevertheless described their ordeal as painful and heartbreaking. “Looking at these children and the torment they went through is unbearable, and we are grateful to God, Mr. President, the NSA and all the security agencies for…

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‘130 Niger State abducted schoolchildren released’ – Presidency 

Aminu Imam
Abducted schoolchildren released2

The Federal Government has secured the release of 130 kidnapped schoolchildren whisked away by gunmen from the St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, Niger State. Presidential spokesman, Sunday Dare, announced this on his official X handle yesterday, said: “Another 130 abducted Niger state pupils released, none left in captivity”. The post was accompanied by a photo of smiling children and a woman. Recall that over 300 children, teachers, and other staff members were kidnapped by the gunmen, who stormed the Catholic school in the early hours of November 21.…

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