Suspected terrorists have attacked the Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, killing one and setting ablaze the United Missionary Church of Africa (UMCA) and the police station in the community.
Confirming the attack, the Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said armed bandits invaded Agwara community and attacked the police station, where they were engaged by a strategic team in the area. Disclosing to him, the attackers later overpower the team and “use suspected wide to set the station on fire.”
He added that the terrorists quickly moved to the UMCA church in the community, where they burnt part of the building, before proceeding to other communities and kidnapping about five persons whose identities have yet to be known.
Abiodun said, analysing the situation that was ongoing, that further improvement will be communicated. Reacting to the incident, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Nigerian Army, and all security agencies to immediately and permanently form a military in Agwara to secure the attacks in the community.
Also reacting, Murtala Dantoro, son of the late Emir of Borgu, Haliru Dantoro, stated that repeated terrorist attacks had turned once-peaceful communities into zones of conflict, fear, and insecurities.
He said, “Innocent lives are being lost, farmers have abandoned their farmlands, economic activities keep biting harder, and families are forced to vacate their homes in search of safety.”
According to Dantoro, the common security sweeper has encouraged criminals who now torment with little and no resistance; therefore, it’s crucial, and it keeps hampering the humanitarian and economic situation in the communities.
