The lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has condemned the deadly attack on Kasuwan Dasaji Market in Niger State, describing it as a tragic reflection of Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
No fewer than 42 people, including women, were reportedly killed during the attack on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at the busy market in Demo community, Borgu Local Government Area, while several others were abducted.
Gunmen were said to have stormed the market, opened fire indiscriminately on traders and residents, set parts of the market ablaze, and fled with an unspecified number of captives.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by her Special Adviser on Media, Mike Idoko, Akpoti-Uduaghan described the incident as “heartbreaking, senseless, and a tragic reminder of the worsening insecurity confronting many Nigerian communities.”
“My heart is heavy as I mourn the innocent men and women who were brutally murdered at Kasuwan Daji Market,” the senator said. “These were ordinary Nigerians going about their lawful activities, only to be cut down by evil forces that have no regard for human life.”
She extended her condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Niger State, assuring them of her solidarity in what she described as a moment of profound grief.
“I sympathise profoundly with the families who have lost loved ones in this cruel attack,” she said. “No words can truly heal such pain, but I pray that God grants the families the strength and comfort to bear these irreparable losses.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan also expressed concern over reports of abductions and the destruction of the market, warning that such attacks go beyond loss of lives to cripple local economies and livelihoods.
“The burning of the market and the kidnapping of innocent citizens further deepen the trauma on these communities,” she said. “This cycle of violence must not be allowed to continue unchecked.”
Calling for urgent action, the senator urged security agencies to swiftly track down and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“I call on the Federal Government and security agencies to act swiftly, decisively, and transparently in apprehending those responsible. Our people deserve protection, and criminals terrorising our communities must be confronted with the full weight of the law,” she said.
She further stressed the need for a proactive, intelligence-driven security strategy, particularly in rural and vulnerable communities increasingly targeted by criminal gangs.
“Nigeria cannot afford to normalise these tragedies,” Akpoti-Uduaghan added. “Protecting lives and property is the foremost duty of any government, and urgent steps must be taken to restore peace and confidence among our people.”
The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the attack, stating that suspected bandits from the National Park forest along Kabe District invaded the market, looted shops, carted away food items, and set the market on fire.
Following the incident, President Bola Tinubu ordered the military, police, and the Department of State Services to track down and apprehend the perpetrators, while directing security agencies to urgently rescue all abducted victims. The President warned that those responsible “must face the full consequences of their criminal actions.”
