Armed Bandits attacked Babanna community in Borgu LGA, Niger. A Catholic pastor was kidnapped during the raid. Police reportedly launched a rescue operation.
11 Jul 2025 · Babanna, Borgu, Niger
Deaths
0
Injured
0
Kidnapped
1
Total casualties
0
Perpetrators
Bandits
Response
The Niger Police Command confirmed the abduction. A police spokesperson said a rescue operation was underway. The Borgu LGA Chairman condemned the attack and called for the safe release of the clergyman. The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora issued a statement appealing for prayers.
Displacement
0
Socioeconomic drivers
Banditry-for-ransom economy, intimidation of religious institutions, weak rural security
Trajectory
Incident reflects expansion of kidnappings in Niger, with clergy increasingly vulnerable.
Cycle notes
Draws on abductions of pastors and imams in Niger and Kaduna, undermining religious leadership and community trust.
Pattern
Kidnappings targeting religious leaders
Related — Kidnapping
Two personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Officer Oliver Orasuur and Officer David Shiaondo Iorwuese, were kidnapped along the Katsina-Ala–Ukum Road in Benue State. The abductors have demanded a ransom of ₦10 million each for their release. Family members confirmed that the kidnappers had contacted them to press for the ransom payment.
In a coordinated operation, armed Bandits launched simultaneous attacks on villages in Kudan Local Government Areas of Kaduna State. They targeted Taban Sani village in Kudan LGA, where assailants kidnapped two villagers and rustled an unspecified number of cattle. The Bandits fired sporadically into the air to stifle any potential resistance.
Gunmen suspected to be Bandits stormed a Kwara State Government road construction site along the Sabaja/Owa-Onire Road. The assailants attacked in broad daylight, overpowering the workers before whisking them away into the nearby forest. While initial reports cited five victims, subsequent updates from family and community sources indicated a total of seven individuals were taken, including engineers, laborers, and a driver.