Communities in Borgu and Agwara LGAs of Niger State are grappling with escalating attacks now widely described as organised terrorism, as repeated assaults, abductions and killings continue to devastate lives and livelihoods.
Communities across Borgu and Agwara Local Government Areas of Niger State are facing a deepening security crisis as coordinated attacks, killings, abductions and arson spread across the northern corridor of the state. What was once dismissed as banditry is increasingly being 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 have targeted farms, schools, markets, churches and security formations, retreating into forest hideouts as residents live in constant fear.
The crisis gained national and international attention on 21 November 2025 when suspected terrorists stormed St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara LGA, abducting students and staff in the early hours. The attack underscored the expanding reach of terror groups in the area, prompting warnings from stakeholders, including former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Jonathan Vatsa, who said: “What is happening in Papiri and Borgu requires a military base, not just police patrols.”
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago visited the Borgu Emirate on 23 November 2025 to sympathise with victims following the Papiri school abduction and returned on 4 January 2026 after fresh deadly attacks in Kasuwan Daji and surrounding communities, where 42 persons were reportedly killed. Despite these interventions, residents say fear remains widespread as armed groups continue to strike with impunity, raising concerns over the adequacy of security measures in the affected areas.