At least 30 killed in Nigeria market attack,authorities launch manhunt

At least 30 people were killed when armed men attacked the Kasuwan Daji market in Demo village, Niger State, on 3 January 2026, according to police. The attackers, described by authorities as “bandits,” burned market stalls, looted food and abducted several people before fleeing into the surrounding forest.

Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun said the assailants rode motorcycles into the market at about 4:30 p.m. local time, opened fire indiscriminately and set fire to shops. Witness accounts indicate the assault was part of a series of raids that began the previous day in nearby Agwarra and Borgu villages.

Residents reported that women and children were among the dead and that the death toll could rise above 40 as bodies are recovered.President Bola Tinubu condemned the attack and ordered Nigeria’s defence chiefs, police and intelligence services to track down those responsible and rescue the abducted victims.

In a statement released by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said the attackers were suspected terrorists fleeing recent airstrikes and vowed they would “face the full consequences” of their crimes.Authorities believe the gunmen came from the National Park Forest along the Kabe district, a known hideout for armed gangs, before attacking the market. Local officials said security forces had been deployed to the area and operations were under way to rescue the abducted residents and restore order.

The massacre is part of a broader pattern of banditry in north‑western and central Nigeria, where armed groups target remote communities for looting and ransom. Police and residents noted that the violence began one day after officials announced that schools in Niger State would reopen following the November abduction of more than 300 students from a Catholic school.

While the Nigerian government has designated these groups as terrorists and outlawed ransom payments, such kidnappings persist amid reports that some ransoms are still paid.

Niger State has been hit particularly hard by this surge in violence. Security forces have struggled to prevent mass killings and kidnappings across the region despite ongoing operations. The latest attack underscores the challenges facing authorities in protecting rural communities and restoring stability