Suspected terrorists, in the early hours of Sunday, attacked Agwara town, the headquarters of Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, setting the only police station and the United African Missionary Church (UMCA) ablaze.

The attackers, who reportedly arrived in large numbers, abducted an unspecified number of worshippers and looted foodstuffs and other essential items after moving from house to house in the town. As of the time of filing this report, no casualties had been confirmed.

Eyewitnesses said the terrorists struck at about 2:00 a.m., arriving on motorcycles which they parked outside the town before trekking in on foot. Their first target was the police station, located at the outskirts of the town. The assailants reportedly doused the facility with petrol and set it on fire after the policemen on duty fled due to being outnumbered.

It could not be immediately confirmed whether any items were taken from the police station.

After the attack on the police facility, the terrorists moved into the town and burnt down the UMCA church. The worshippers abducted were said to be participants in an end-of-month night vigil held at the church before the attackers arrived. Some worshippers, however, managed to escape into the bush to save their lives. The attackers were said to have piled up church benches, poured petrol on them, and set the building on fire.

The attack has thrown the town into panic, with many residents fleeing into nearby bushes for safety and yet to return.

Confirming the incident, a reverend of the church, Reverend Yakubu Yohanna, said residents were gradually returning to the town. “We are just coming back into the town from our hiding places, but many are still in the bush,” he said. He added that no deaths had been recorded so far, noting that they were still waiting for everyone to emerge from hiding.

Efforts to obtain confirmation from the police and a reaction from the Niger State Government were unsuccessful as of press time.

Agwara Local Government Area was also the scene of a mass abduction last year, when 230 teachers, pupils, and students were kidnapped in Papiri town before they were later rescued by the Federal Government.