Governor’s remarks follow deadly bandit attack at Kasuwan Daji market where over 40 traders were killed in Niger State.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has triggered widespread backlash after describing Kasuwan Daji market, the site of a deadly bandit attack that claimed over 40 lives, as a “market of thieves.”
The controversial comment came days after suspected armed bandits stormed the popular rural market located in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, killing scores of traders and residents, while several others were reportedly abducted.
According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers arrived in large numbers, opened fire on traders, looted food items and valuables, and set parts of the market ablaze before fleeing. Survivors described the incident as one of the deadliest attacks in the area in recent months.
Reacting to the massacre, Governor Bago condemned the killings but reportedly claimed that Kasuwan Daji had long been known as a hub for criminal activities, referring to it as a “market of thieves.” The statement has since drawn criticism from residents, civil society groups, and opposition figures who accused the governor of blaming victims instead of addressing security failures.
Many locals insist the market is a legitimate trading centre relied upon by farming communities for survival and accuse the state government of neglecting rural security despite repeated warnings about rising bandit activities around the area.
Meanwhile, security agencies have launched operations to track down the perpetrators, while the federal government has also condemned the attack and ordered intensified efforts to rescue abducted victims and restore peace in affected communities.
The Kasuwan Daji massacre adds to growing concerns over persistent insecurity in Niger State, particularly in border communities near forest reserves that have become hideouts for armed groups.
As outrage continues to mount over Governor Bago’s remarks, residents and rights groups are calling for accountability, improved intelligence gathering, and stronger protection for rural markets, warning that inflammatory comments could further erode public trust amid Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.
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