Gunmen Kill Dozens in Market Attack in Nigeria’s Niger State

Gunmen Kill Dozens in Market Attack in Nigeria’s Niger State
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At least 30 people were killed and several others abducted when armed attackers raided a market in Nigeria’s Niger State, according to police, as reported by Reuters. The assault underscores persistent insecurity in parts of central and northwestern Nigeria, where armed groups continue to target rural communities.

Police said the gunmen stormed a busy market in a village in the state on Saturday afternoon, setting stalls ablaze and looting food supplies. The attackers, commonly referred to as bandits, arrived in large numbers and opened fire, leaving many victims dead at the scene.

Witnesses said the assault was part of a wider wave of violence that began a day earlier in nearby villages, with attackers moving between communities on motorcycles. Residents reported indiscriminate shooting that spared neither women nor children, while security forces were reportedly absent during the attacks.

Nigeria’s president said he had ordered security agencies to pursue those responsible and intensify operations to rescue abducted victims and protect vulnerable areas, particularly near forested zones. The attack follows a recent mass abduction in the same state, highlighting the growing challenge authorities face in containing banditry despite ongoing military efforts.