Nigeria: Bandits massacre 42 Christian and Muslim villagers

Village of Kasuwan Daji after the attack

Source: Aid to the Church in Need

The New Year in Nigeria has begun in bloodshed after bandits slaughtered innocent civilians in the country's Middle Belt.

In a wave of violence, heavily armed fighters killed 50 people during a series of assaults between 28th December 2025 and 3rd January 2026.

The attacks climaxed in a massacre in the village of Kasuwan Daji where 42 people were killed when bandits struck late on Saturday (3rd January).

According to a report from Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna of Kontagora, sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the attackers "set fire to the market and surrounding houses, slaughtering 42 men after tying their arms behind their backs."

The report said the victims were all men - both Christians and Muslims. The attackers also "kidnapped an unknown number of women and children".

Smoke could be seen more than nine miles (15 kilometres) away in Papiri, where more than 200 schoolchildren were abducted in November.

Bishop Yohanna said a group of bandits had been "roaming freely across the northern part of Borgu Local Government Area in Niger State and the southern part of Shanga Local Government Area in Kebbi State, without being challenged by security forces".

On 1st January the bandits "passed through Shafaci again and burned documents at the police station before spending the night in the bush".

The following morning at around 10am the attackers entered the Catholic Church compound in Sokonbora and "destroyed a crucifix, pictures of the Stations of the Cross and musical instruments".

The bishop said they also stole mobile phones, money and two motorcycles from the compound, before occupying a nearby settlement belonging to the Kambari ethnic group.

The bandits slaughtered and ate the locals' livestock. They remained there until launching their attack on Kasuwan Daji the following day.

Fear has spread among locals, leading to mass displacement, with families fleeing their homes and livelihoods, according to the report.

Expressing his "profound sorrow", Bishop Yohanna told ACN: "This senseless, barbaric and inhuman act of violence is a grave violation of the sanctity of human life and human dignity."

He appealed to all local ethnic groups - including Kambari, Busa, Fulani and Hausa - "not to see one another as enemies, but to remain united in rejecting violence in all its forms and in standing together to confront our common enemy, the bandits".

The bishop has called for immediate government intervention, noting that "pending the elimination of the bandits and their hideouts in the Kainji Game Reserve, there is an urgent need for a large and well-equipped military task force capable of and empowered to pursue, engage and eliminate the bandits whenever they come out of the Reserve again".

Without a response, he warned, "there will be massive and ongoing loss of life and permanent displacement of large numbers of people."

ACN is committed to supporting the affected communities and has joined the bishop's call for fresh measures to protect the civilian population.

With thanks to Maria Lozano

LINK

Aid to the Church in Need: https://acnuk.org