Gunmen raid Kasuwan-Daji market in Niger State, killing at least 30 and abducting residents

On the evening of 3 January 2026, armed gunmen raided the Kasuwan Daji market / Kasuwan-Daji community in Demo village (Kabe District), Borgu LGA, Niger State, killing 30+ people (police count) and abducting others, including children. Attack timing & method: Police said the attackers stormed the market at around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, firing on residents, burning market stalls, and looting food items; homes were also set on fire in the raid. Casualties (vary by source): Police: “Over 30” killed, with additional people kidnapped. Local/clergy estimates: Residents and a Catholic diocese spokesperson cited ~37 to “more than 40” deaths, with some victims still missing. Where attackers came from: Local reporting and official statements referenced nearby forest areas (including a national park forest corridor) often used as hideouts by armed groups. Follow-up development Federal response: President Bola Tinubu ordered the military, police, and intelligence services to hunt down the perpetrators and rescue abducted victims. Claimed linkage to recent strikes: Tinubu’s office said the attackers were suspected to be fleeing pressure after U.S.-assisted airstrikes conducted around Christmas Eve, and separate reporting described U.S.-backed strikes targeting ISIS-linked camps in Nigeria’s northwest in late December.