Terrorists Overrun Agwara In Niger State, Burn Police Headquarters, Church As Residents Cry For Help

Terrorists stormed Agwara community in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, setting the main Police Divisional Headquarters and the First United Missionary Church of Africa (UMCA) ablaze in a deadly overnight attack.

SaharaReporters gathered that the attack occurred around midnight, throwing the town into confusion as residents fled in fear.

Confirming the incident on Sunday through a security alert, a security analyst, Bakatsine, disclosed that armed bandits had overrun the town, overpowering any form of resistance and operating for hours without restraint.

Meanwhile, the residents said the assailants remain in and around the area, subjecting civilians to violence and intimidation as security response continues to lag.

Videos circulating online show the charred remains of the Agwara Police Divisional Headquarters and the First UMCA church, both torched during the coordinated attack that stretched into the early hours of today.

Residents expressed frustration and fear, lamenting the absence of security operatives during and after the attack, despite repeated distress calls.

Many now fear a possible follow-up assault, as no visible security reinforcement has been deployed to the area.

SaharaReporters previously reported that an aircraft allegedly owned by the Nigerian Air Force and operated by members of Operation Fansan Yamma struck Kurgi community in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, killing two people, leaving three others without arms and legs, and severely injuring six more on Sunday, January 25, 2026.

SaharaReporters gathered that the attack caused panic, forcing residents to flee their homes to neighbouring communities for safety.

Sources in the community told SaharaReporters that the airstrike affected both Muslims and Christians, saying, “What the aircraft does is it goes round the communities and strikes people they see. The aircraft uses both bombs and shooting bullets on innocent persons.”

One victim, a man sitting in front of a church, “on sighting the aircraft he started running and he was struck with a bullet in the left side of his stomach,” a source told SaharaReporters last Wednesday.

A local resident described the incident as “shocking and unprovoked” and called on authorities to “urgently investigate the incident and provide medical assistance to those injured.” (SaharaReporters)