Death Toll Rises to 50 After Market Attack in Nigeria’s Niger State

Nigerian authorities confirmed that the number of people killed in an armed assault on a busy market in Niger State has risen to 50, local officials said on Monday.

The attack occurred on Saturday at the Kasuwan Daji market in Demo village, where gunmen opened fire on traders and shoppers, according to community sources. Several residents were also abducted, and goods were looted during the assault.

Emergency responders and security personnel transported the wounded to nearby hospitals, while local leaders held a mass funeral for some of the victims. Survivors described scenes of chaos as families searched for missing relatives in the aftermath of the attack.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned the violence and ordered security agencies to track down the perpetrators and increase protection for vulnerable communities. He urged authorities to prioritise the rescue of those still missing.

“These terrorists have tested the resolve of our country and its people. They must face the full consequences of their criminal actions,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

Niger State has experienced a surge in banditry and militant violence in recent months, including the mass abduction of more than 300 schoolchildren late last year, raising ongoing concerns about the safety of civilians in affected regions.

SOURCE: TRTAfrika