Fresh fear has gripped Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State following an early morning attack by suspected terrorists that claimed the life of an elderly woman and left a police station and church in ruins.

The attack, which residents described as coordinated and daring, reportedly occurred around 6am on Sunday when armed men stormed Agwara town. Witnesses said the assailants first set the United Missionary Church of Africa ablaze before moving to the Agwara police station, where they engaged officers on duty.

After the initial assault, the gunmen were said to have advanced towards Sokonba village near Kabe, an area locals say has suffered repeated attacks in recent months. Homes were reportedly ransacked, with food items and valuables carted away.

During the raid on Kabe town, an elderly woman was killed, while several houses and properties worth millions of naira were destroyed, forcing many residents to flee their homes in panic.

Reacting to the incident, Murtala Dantoro, son of the late Emir of Borgu, said the continued attacks had turned peaceful communities in the area into theatres of fear.

“For how long will this continue? Innocent people are being killed, farmers can no longer go to their farms, and many have abandoned their means of livelihood,” he said. “Virtually all economic activities here have come to a standstill.”

Dantoro added that many families were now hiding in bushes or seeking refuge in neighbouring communities, warning that the absence of effective security had emboldened criminal elements.

Also expressing concern, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger State, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, urged the Federal Government and security agencies to take urgent steps to secure the area.

“We need a permanent military presence in Agwara. Without that, these attacks will continue and more innocent lives will be lost,” the bishop appealed.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Command, SP Wasiu A. Abiodun, said armed bandits attacked the Agwara police station and overwhelmed officers on duty.

“The police tactical team engaged the attackers, but they were overpowered. The bandits used suspected dynamite to set the station on fire,” he stated.

Abiodun also disclosed that five persons were abducted during the attack, adding that their identities were yet to be confirmed. He said security agencies were monitoring the situation and working to restore calm in the affected communities.

The latest attack has renewed calls from residents and community leaders for stronger security measures to stem the tide of violence spreading across parts of Niger State.