Bandits burn police station, church, abduct five in Niger

Suspected armed bandits have set fire to a police station and part of a church in Agwara community, Niger State, during an early-morning attack on Sunday.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Minna.

He said the attackers stormed the Agwara Police Station at about 3:40 a.m., where officers on duty engaged them in a gun battle.

According to him, the assailants eventually overpowered the officers and used suspected explosives to raze the station before moving to the United Methodist Church, where part of the building was also burnt.

The bandits reportedly advanced to other parts of the community and abducted about five residents, whose identities are yet to be confirmed.

Abiodun said security agencies are monitoring the situation and have launched investigations, while efforts are ongoing to track down the attackers and rescue the victims.

Niger State has faced recurring security challenges in recent months, with several incidents of kidnappings and violent raids across communities, raising concerns about safety in the region.