Niger State bandits torch primary school after collecting N10 million levy

Armed bandits attacked Dekara in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria, setting the Central Primary School ablaze despite having collected a ₦10 million protection levy from the community. Residents said the attackers emerged from Kainji Lake National Park, stormed the district headquarters on Wednesday and burned the school, forcing many to flee. The assault also resulted in one civilian death – identified as Moses Joseph of Unguwan Kawo – and the kidnapping of another, a woman known locally as Emma, who was shot before being taken away.

The incident forms part of a series of raids on neighbouring villages in Borgu and Agwara LGAs, with bandits previously targeting Dnakau, Lanta and Unguwan Kawo in Shiroro LGA. Thousands of residents have been displaced, seeking shelter in nearby towns and informal IDP camps, disrupting farming activities and raising food‑security concerns in one of Nigeria’s key agricultural regions. State authorities and police have not issued an official response.