Gory details are emerging from Kwokoso village in Borgu LGA of Niger State, where a deadly weekend attack left several residents dead and communities accusing leaders of abandoning rural areas to violent criminals.
The latest violence adds to mounting insecurity concerns across Niger State, as survivors demand urgent security action and accountability from authorities.
Local accounts describe how armed assailants invaded the village, unleashing terror on unsuspecting residents. Victims were said to have been attacked in their homes and on nearby farmlands, leaving families devastated and forcing many villagers to flee the area for safety.
Survivors told reporters that the attackers operated for an extended period without any immediate security intervention, heightening fears over the vulnerability of rural communities in the state.
The scale and brutality of the assault have left Kwokoso largely deserted, with women, children, and the elderly seeking refuge in neighbouring towns.
The incident has triggered anger and frustration among residents, who accuse political leaders of abandoning remote communities to their fate.
According to locals, repeated appeals for improved security in the area had yielded little response before the attack occurred.
“Our people are being killed, yet those in authority appear unbothered,” a resident said, lamenting what he described as official indifference to the plight of rural dwellers.
As at press time, there was no comprehensive official confirmation of the number of casualties, nor information on arrests linked to the incident.
Community leaders, however, have called on the Niger State Government and security agencies to launch a thorough investigation, deploy security personnel to the area, and provide relief for displaced residents.
The killings in Kwokoso add to growing concerns over insecurity in parts of Niger State, where armed attacks on villages have become increasingly frequent.
Analysts warn that unless urgent and sustained measures are taken, rural populations will continue to bear the brunt of the security crisis.
