Terror Attacks: Thousands Flee Niger Border Communities To Benin Republic

Thousands of terrified residents of Borgu and Agwara local government areas of Niger State have fled their homes following renewed terrorist attacks, seeking refuge in the neighbouring Benin Republic.

The fresh wave of violence has worsened Nigeria’s deepening security and humanitarian crisis, which the United Nations says has left more than 3.7 million Nigerians internally displaced.

The latest attack occurred barely 24 hours after the governors of Niger and Kwara states, Mohammed Umaru Bago and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, met in Minna to assess the security situation in border communities.

In the early hours of Tuesday, over 200 armed men riding about 70 motorcycles stormed the Konkoso community in Borgu for the second time within a week.

Eyewitnesses who spoke with The Guardian said the attackers set additional houses ablaze before moving to Segbana, a border town between the Benin Republic and Nigeria in Kebbi State, where they reportedly wreaked havoc. There was no immediate confirmation of casualties as of press time.

Villagers, already panic-stricken by the absence of security operatives, began fleeing in droves. Police outposts in the area were reportedly burnt last week, forcing operatives to withdraw, while the terrorists allegedly established a base in Konkoso.

A resident who spoke anonymously said, “Over 200 terrorists returned to Konkoso communities on Tuesday morning with about 70 motorcycles and burnt down the remaining houses that were not set ablaze during their first operation last week.”

The communities had earlier been attacked from February 12 to February 14, during which more than 50 people were reportedly killed and several houses, including a police station, were destroyed.

Senate Condemns Killings

The Senate on Tuesday condemned what it described as the brutal killing of 56 Nigerians and the abduction of women and children in Konkoso village.

The resolution followed a motion of urgent national importance moved by the senator representing Niger East, Sani Musa.

Musa told lawmakers that more than 56 citizens were killed in Konkoso and nearby Pissa villages, while several women and children were abducted.

He warned that the North-Central region was witnessing rising attacks on rural communities and farmlands, threatening food security and national stability.

While commending President Bola Tinubu and security agencies for ongoing counterterrorism efforts, Musa expressed concern that repeated assaults revealed gaps in intelligence gathering and rapid response capacity.

The Senate observed a minute of silence for the victims and renewed calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s security architecture, including improved intelligence coordination and deployment of surveillance technology.

3.7 Million Nigerians Displaced – UN

Meanwhile, the United Nations has revealed that more than 3.7 million Nigerians are currently living in internal displacement.

The UN Assistant Secretary-General and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, disclosed this at the launch of the Internally Displaced Persons Policy and State Action Plan on Durable Solutions for Katsina and Zamfara states in Abuja.

“Displacement is a national development challenge. It affects economic productivity, social cohesion, and long-term stability,” Fall said.

He noted that while displacement had long been associated with the North-East, the North-West was increasingly becoming a major epicentre due to persistent insecurity and banditry.

Chairman of the North-West Governors’ Forum and Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, described internal displacement as a structural issue requiring long-term, coordinated strategies.

“Internal displacement has evolved into a structural issue that requires long-term, coordinated strategies anchored on recovery, reintegration, and resilience,” Radda said.

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, said the burden in his state remained severe, citing abandoned farmlands and prolonged disruption of education and healthcare services.

Amid rising insecurity, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, met with a committee of former Inspectors-General of Police led by Aliyu Attah to tap into their experience.

Briefing senior officers after the meeting, Egbetokun said the police would intensify efforts to curb crime and rebuild public confidence.

He added that misinformation and campaigns against him and the force would not deter the police from reducing crime across the country.

The IGP pledged greater professionalism, improved morale and capacity building within the force to tackle emerging security threats.