Four residents have been killed while two others sustained serious injuries after gunmen attacked communities in Niger State.
The attackers reportedly struck during the night, causing casualties among residents before leaving the affected communities.
The incident happened in Godoro and Angwan-Bisala communities in Katako District, Rafi Local Government Area, around 1:30am on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying its personnel moved to the area after the attack and took the injured victims to a hospital for treatment.
Police spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said an investigation had commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and identify those responsible.
Meanwhile, the Village Head of Tashan-Rimi, Alhaji Garba Mohammed Bissalla, claimed that the death toll was higher, putting the number of victims at six.
Bissalla said the violence was connected to the prolonged tension between Fulani and Kamuku communities in the area. He also alleged that previous peace efforts by government and traditional authorities had failed to prevent fresh attacks.
According to him, the wider conflict had caused significant loss of lives and displaced or affected more than 100 families. He further claimed that an extended family had lost 45 members in earlier violence.
The traditional ruler urged the authorities to take concrete steps to address the insecurity and prevent further escalation in the affected communities.
The allegations concerning the conflict could not be independently verified, while no response from representatives of the Fulani community was immediately available.