Sources told Daily Trust that following the attack on the police facility, the gunmen moved to the United Methodist Church (UMC) in the area, where part of the church building was also razed.
Terrorists on Saturday, January 31, 2026 stormed Agwara town, headquarters of Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State and violently attacked the community as well as set a church and a police station ablaze.
The terrorists who stormed the town at about 4:00 a.m. and immediately engaged themselves with firing heavy gunshots and confronted police personnel at the Divisional Police Headquarters in a fierce gun battle, succeeded in kidnapping several people after they overpowered policemen on ground. It was gathered that the terrorists allegedly used suspected dynamite to set the police station on fire.
The armed men, it was further gathered moved immediately to the United Methodist Church (UMC) in the area and also razed part of the church building and from there spread to other parts of the community and abducted at least five persons.
One of the residents of Agwara, Hussaini Mohammed, while confirming the incident, said the attack seriously sent jitters into the spines of residents of the town.
According to Mohammed; “Part of the church was burnt, and the situation has created serious fear. Many people have fled their homes to seek safety”.
The Nigeria Police command in Niger State through its spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, while confirming the incident, however said that no life was lost during the unfortunate attack.
SP Abiodun said; “On 01/02/26 at about 3:40 a.m., armed bandits invaded Agwara community and attacked the police station, where they were engaged by the tactical team on ground.
“The bandits used suspected dynamite to set the station ablaze after overpowering the team. The terrorists later moved to the UMC church in the community, burnt part of the church, proceeded to other areas and abducted about five persons whose identities are yet to be ascertained,” he said.
The police spokesperson further said that security agencies have intensified monitoring in the area and assured that further developments would be communicated as efforts are being intensified to restore calm to the community.
