Boko Haram Attacks Niger Village, Many Dead

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have attacked Pissa, a village in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State. They killed many locals and kidnapped others, including women and children.

Local sources told PREMIUM TIMES the attack began early Saturday morning. Many houses were set on fire by the terrorists.

WhatsApp voice messages from villagers who fled say the attackers numbered over 100. They also threatened to strike nearby villages, Kabe and Sukumba.

In one voice message, a man hiding said the terrorists defeated local vigilantes in the village. He complained that military personnel had not yet been sent to help.

The Niger police command has not commented on the attack. An inquiry sent to its spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, has not received a response.

Meanwhile, a local security guard in Wawa, a nearby town, said it would be hard to send security forces to the area by road.

“The only bridge linking Wawa to the villages had been blown up by Boko Haram about two months ago,” he explained. He added that only military aircraft could help.

Another villager said neither land nor air forces had reached the community.

“They are still here, taking women and children. They are killing some and burning our houses,” he said in a WhatsApp voice note sent to this newspaper.

“But no help has come. Our military aircraft are useless. We have not seen them, but later they will tell us lies that they killed all the terrorists,” he added.