• Gunmen attacked Kasuwan Daji market in Niger State, killing at least 50 villagers.
• Witnesses report indiscriminate firing and abduction of residents during the violent raid.
• President Bola Tinubu condemned the attack, promising strengthened security measures.

On Saturday, armed attackers stormed the Kasuwan Daji village’s market in Niger State, resulting in the deaths of at least 50 individuals and several abductions, according to local reports. The attackers opened fire indiscriminately and looted food supplies as chaos erupted amongst residents, many of whom had been preparing for the weekend market. Eyewitnesses noted that the violence left scenes of panic and devastation, and some local sources cited a death toll as high as 37 to 50, revealing the potential for an even greater tragedy as recovery efforts progressed, according to Al Jazeera and Africanews.

The gang, referred to as "bandits," reportedly arrived on motorcycles from the nearby National Park Forest, which is notorious for harboring armed groups. The attack reflects an ongoing wave of violence in the region, with residents voicing frustration over the lack of security presence despite numerous calls for assistance. "We are dying like chickens, and does the government care about us?" lamented a local witness, underscoring the fears that have gripped the community, according to India Times and BBC.

In response to the attack, President Bola Tinubu condemned the violence and asserted that security operations would be reinforced around vulnerable communities. He emphasized that those responsible for the atrocities must "face the full consequences of their criminal actions." Furthermore, he instructed security forces to immediately commence the search for those abducted, as community members expressed their ongoing fear of further violence, particularly following an earlier mass kidnap of schoolchildren in the area, according to CBS News and AA.