Nigerian Residents Question ISIS Attack
Armed attackers struck a rural market in central Nigeria on Sunday, resulting in numerous fatalities and multiple kidnappings, as reported by the police.
Authorities indicated that more than 30 people died in the incident, some were taken hostage. Rescue efforts are underway for those who were abducted, according to police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun.
Abiodun detailed that gunmen invaded Daji Market in Demo Village, Niger State, around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. They set market stalls ablaze and stole food items.
Eyewitnesses mentioned that the attackers arrived on motorbikes before they began firing indiscriminately.
Locals noted that this assault followed previous attacks on nearby villages like Agwala and Borg, which had started on Friday.
One survivor, Dauda Shakre, who was injured while escaping, remarked that the violence spared neither women nor children. “Security forces have not been present since the attack began. They are currently collecting bodies,” Shakur added.
In recent months, this incident is part of a disturbing trend of mass kidnappings in Nigeria. For context, 25 female students have been kidnapped from boarding schools in Kebbi state, and earlier in November, 300 children and 12 teachers were abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic School in Niger State.
The Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles later confirmed that those taken from the school were safely released. “From the first hours of the abduction, we were supported by an incredible global solidarity of prayer and advocacy,” noted Sister Mary Barron, Congregational Leader of the OLA Sisters.
Amid these developments, insecurity and rebel violence in northern Nigeria have led to severe food shortages. According to the United Nations World Food Program, nearly 35 million people may face heightened food insecurity during the upcoming bad harvest season in 2026.
The WFP has cautioned that the unchecked hunger, especially during the vulnerable pre-harvest period, could destabilize the region further, potentially allowing rebel groups to take advantage of the desperate situation to expand their influence.
