Gunmen attacked a village market in northern Nigeria over the weekend, killing dozens of people and kidnapping others, in one of the first major security crises of the new year. The assault on Kasuwan Daji market in Niger state has drawn nationwide condemnation and urgent orders from President Bola Tinubu for security forces to hunt down those responsible.

According to police,attackers stormed the market in Demo village in the Borgu local government area on Saturday afternoon. They opened fire on people, set the market ablaze, looted shops, and abducted an unspecified number of residents. Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun stated that “over 30 victims lost their lives,” while acknowledging some people were also kidnapped. Local sources, including a church official, have provided higher figures, saying at least 40 or even 50 people were killed.

This area has suffered repeated violence.The same region was the site of a mass school kidnapping in November 2025, where more than 300 pupils and teachers were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri. Police noted the attackers in the latest incident came from a nearby national park forest, highlighting how such areas often serve as hideouts for armed groups.

President Tinubu responded on Sunday by directing the country’s top military,police, and intelligence officials to track down the attackers and rescue the abducted. In a statement, he said the terrorists “must be hunted down” and vowed they would “face the full consequences of their criminal actions”.

Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State described the attack as“cruel and nefarious,” expressing sadness that the year began with such violence. Condemnation also came from political figures across the country, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Northern States Governors’ Forum, which called the attack a “grave threat to peace”.

The attack underscores the persistent challenge of armed banditry and kidnapping for ransom in northwest and central Nigeria.These groups, locally referred to as “bandits,” frequently target remote communities with limited security presence. The situation has led to public frustration, with some citizens expressing on social media that they are tired of condemnations after attacks and demand proactive prevention. One analysis suggests the attackers in Niger may be terrorists fleeing military operations in neighboring states.

A joint security team has been deployed to the area,with efforts ongoing to rescue the kidnapped victims. The president has assured residents that security operations will be intensified around vulnerable communities near forest areas. As the community buries its dead, the national focus is on whether these latest orders will translate into decisive action to end the cycle of violence in Nigeria’s northern regions.