More than 200 gunmen on motorbikes swept through three villages in Borgu Local Government Area early Saturday, killing at least 30 people, burning a police station, and forcing hundreds to flee—the latest in a relentless wave of attacks that residents say the government has done nothing to stop.
The assailants struck Tunga-Makeri around 3 a.m., beheading six people before setting shops ablaze. They moved on to Konkoso village at dawn, shooting indiscriminately and setting the police station on fire. The nearby Pissa community was also attacked. Witnesses say the gunmen outnumbered security personnel and operated for hours without resistance.
“The bandits stormed our town around 3 a.m., riding so many motorcycles while shooting sporadically, beheading six people and killing others. They set shops on fire and forced the whole village to flee,” said Auwal Ibrahim, a resident of Tunga-Makeri. “Many villagers fear returning as the gunmen remain nearby.”
Jeremiah Timothy, who fled Konkoso, said at least 26 people were killed in his village alone. “They set the police station ablaze,” he said. Residents reported hearing military jets overhead, but no troops arrived to stop the attack.
‘The Government Cannot Protect Them.’
The attackers had a message for survivors. According to community sources, the gunmen told residents “the government cannot protect them,” and that seeking military intervention was a waste of time. They specifically targeted individuals believed to be advocating for government action, killing them as a warning to others.
“They told the people that the government cannot protect them, and that the people are wasting their time,” a local source told The Sun. “They said the people should find a way of making peace with them rather than seeking protection from the government.”
The message was brutally clear: the state offers no safety, and anyone who asks for help will pay with their life.
Cries Ignored
The attack came barely a week after political and traditional leaders in Borgu Kingdom issued an urgent SOS to President Bola Tinubu, begging for military intervention. At a press conference in early February, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger State, Bishop Bulus Yohanna, and Prince of Borgu, Murtala Dantoro, made an impassioned plea.
“Borgu Kingdom is bleeding,” Dantoro said. “And we are crying out—not in anger, but in anguish—for the urgent intervention of the federal government of Nigeria.”
They specifically requested:
· A military base in Agwara or Borgu LGAs
· Emergency funding to rebuild destroyed security infrastructure
· A coordinated security response to decisively address the bandit threat
The Prince reminded Tinubu that his traditional title, Jagaban Borgu, “embodies a sacred bond” with the people of the land—a bond they say has not been honored.
What the Government Says
Niger State Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the attack but initially reported only six deaths. He said details from other villages were still unclear.
“Suspected bandits invaded Tunga-Makeri village… six persons lost their lives, some houses were also set ablaze, and a yet-to-be ascertained number of persons were abducted,” Abiodun said. He added that the assailants had moved on to Konkoso village.
As of Saturday evening, no official statement had been issued by the Niger State Government or the Federal Government on the latest massacre.
President’s Promises, No Action
On February 9, President Tinubu addressed the National Economic Council conference in Abuja, vowing to strengthen security forces and defeat banditry.
“This banditry and terrorism are unacceptable,” he said. “It is not part of our culture. It is foreign to us. It is an economic hindrance if we do not find an immediate solution to it.”
He assured Nigerians: “We will win with determination and resilience.”
But days later, Borgu residents are counting their dead and asking when that determination will reach them.
A Pattern of Neglect
The February 14 attack is not isolated. In recent months, Borgu and neighboring Agwara LGAs have suffered repeated raids. More than 300 people have been killed across the two areas, according to community leaders. Properties worth millions have been destroyed. Schools have closed. Farms lie fallow.
Residents of Konkoso who survived Saturday’s attack say they have nowhere to go and no one to turn to. The police station that might have offered protection is now ashes. The military jets they heard overhead did not land.
“The gunmen remain nearby,” Ibrahim said.
The Unanswered Question
After every attack, the same question echoes through devastated communities in Borgu: Will the government ever respond?
Prince Dantoro put it plainly last week: “We are crying out—not in anger, but in anguish—for the urgent intervention of the federal government.”
Saturday’s attack was the answer to that cry. Not troops. Not a military base. Not even a statement.
Just more bodies. More ashes. And the mocking words of bandits who know better than anyone that the government will not come.
