Bandits Burn Niger Police Station, Raid Church, Kidnap Residents

ByEditor

Feb 1, 2026 #Agwara attack, #Agwara police station burnt, #bandits raid church, #Borno insurgency, #Damboa military base, #ISWAP Attack, #Niger kidnapping, #Niger security, #Niger State bandits, #Nigeria insecurity

Malik Yahya/

Bandits have attacked Agwara town, the headquarters of Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, setting the Divisional Police Station ablaze, raiding a church and abducting at least five residents.

The attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday, when the assailants reportedly stormed the community at about 3.40am and engaged police officers in a gun battle.

After overpowering the officers on duty, the attackers set the police station on fire, allegedly using explosive materials, before moving to the United Methodist Church (UMC) in the area, where part of the building was also burnt.

The bandits later advanced into other parts of the town, abducting no fewer than five people.

Their identities were yet to be confirmed as of the time of filing this report.

A resident of Agwara, Mallam Hussaini Mohammed, said the attack had thrown the community into panic.

“Part of the church was burnt, and many people have fled their homes out of fear,” he said.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said no life was lost during the attack.

“On 1/2/26 at about 3.40am, armed bandits invaded Agwara community and attacked the police station, where they were engaged by the tactical team on ground,” Abiodun said in a statement.

“They used suspected dynamite to set the station ablaze after overpowering the team. The terrorists later moved to the UMC Church in the community, burnt part of the church, and proceeded to other areas where about five persons were abducted.

“Their identities are yet to be ascertained. Monitoring continues, and further developments will be communicated.”

The Agwara attack comes on the heels of heightened security concerns nationwide, following reports earlier on Friday of an attack by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters on a Nigerian Army base in Sabon Gari, Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

According to reports, ISWAP insurgents attacked the military facility, setting vehicles ablaze and carting away weapons, although there was no immediate official confirmation of casualties.

The Nigerian Army has yet to issue a formal statement on the incident.