Terrorists Attack Niger Community, Kill Five, Burn Homes in Shiroro Raid

Panic swept through Baga community in Niger State after a deadly overnight raid left several people dead, homes destroyed, and residents fleeing for safety.

Armed attackers stormed the rural settlement in Shiroro Local Government Area in the early hours of Tuesday, killing at least five people and abducting an unspecified number of residents in a coordinated assault.

Eyewitness accounts describe a large, heavily armed group moving through the community with devastating force. One resident, who asked not to be named, said more than 160 attackers carried out the operation, using explosives to set houses ablaze and destroy property.

“More than 160 terrorists attacked Baga early this morning, burning houses with explosives. As of this evening, the entire community is engulfed in flames with thick smoke rising,” the source said.

Local vigilantes who attempted to resist the нападение were quickly overwhelmed. At least eight members of the group were injured during the confrontation and are currently receiving treatment at a nearby medical facility.

Residents believe the attackers may have moved into Baga after rustling cattle from the nearby Nada village a day earlier, suggesting a pattern of coordinated raids across communities in the area.

Security forces have since been deployed to restore calm, though authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the incident. The delay has further heightened anxiety among residents already shaken by recurring attacks in the region.

The latest violence underscores growing security concerns in parts of Niger State, where rural communities continue to face threats from armed groups, often with devastating consequences.