The news broke like a thunderclap on January 4, 2026: Tinubu orders security agencies to intensify operations around forest communities after Niger attack. As Nigeria’s security struggles unfold year after year, this directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu feels both urgent and necessary. The brutal assault on Kasuwan Daji market in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State left dozens dead—reports range from 30 to over 40—and many abducted, including women and children. It’s the kind of tragedy that shakes you, reminding us how vulnerable rural areas remain to banditry in Niger State in 2026.
The attackers, suspected terrorists fleeing military pressure in Sokoto and Zamfara following a U.S. airstrike on Christmas Eve, stormed the market on January 3, shooting indiscriminately, looting shops, and setting structures ablaze. Witnesses described chaos as villagers fled into bushes for safety. Police confirmed the raid originated from forest hideouts along the National Park area, highlighting why Tinubu’s directive to forest hideouts in Niger is spot on—these wooded zones have long served as sanctuaries for criminal elements.
In a strong statement, President Tinubu condemned the “barbaric” violence, extending condolences to victims’ families and the people of Niger State. He directed the military, police, and DSS to hunt down the perpetrators, ensure their swift justice, and urgently rescue all abductees. Crucially, he mandated stepped-up patrols and operations in vulnerable forest communities in Niger attacked, aiming to deny bandits any safe haven. “These times demand our humanity,” he said, calling for national unity against these “monsters.”
This response comes amid rising terrorism and banditry in Niger State. These forest-based attacks are sadly part of a growing pattern across the North-Central and Northwest regions, including recent violence like the bandit raid on the Idofin community in neighboring Kogi State, where one person was killed and another injured, and similar incidents in Agwara and other LGAs in Nigeria. Residents have long complained about inadequate protection along highways and near forests, where ambushes and kidnappings are common. Tinubu’s order signals a push for more proactive measures, building on increased security funding in the 2026 budget.
Personally, I hope this leads to real change. Communities like Kasuwan Daji deserve peace, not fear. The president’s assurance that the government won’t abandon affected areas is reassuring, but actions on the ground will tell. Prayers for the bereaved and abducted; may they find justice and safety soon.
