Gunmen kill Immigration Officer Burn Checkpoints In Niger State

Terror struck parts of Borgu Local Government Area in Niger State over the weekend after gunmen believed to be ISWAP fighters launched coordinated attacks on security outposts, killing an immigration officer and burning down checkpoints.

The attackers, numbering many, stormed the Lumma-Sanke area on Saturday evening, targeting a Nigeria Immigration Service patrol post located along the Babanna-Wawa road. Superintendent of Immigration Suleiman was killed during the assault. His body and service rifle were reportedly set on fire by the assailants.

Shortly after, another group attacked a police border checkpoint at Luma Ba’are, a nearby location. While full details of casualties at that site remain unclear, several vehicles, including patrol vans, motorcycles, and private cars owned by officers, were destroyed by fire.

The twin attacks, which happened almost at the same time, caused panic across surrounding communities as residents fled or stayed indoors in fear of further violence. Sources within the Immigration Service confirmed that another officer, identified as Ahmed, has not been seen since the incident and is now considered missing.

Local security personnel described the events as deeply disturbing, noting the attackers had a clear plan and executed it quickly. The Luma Immigration Patrol Outpost and the nearby police checkpoint were both overwhelmed by the surprise assault.

Security sources say the attacks bear the marks of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a group known for targeting military and police formations in the northern region. The border area, close to Benin Republic, has seen rising insecurity in recent years due to its porous nature.

While the Niger State Police Command has promised to investigate, no official statement has been issued as of the time of reporting. Community members are calling for urgent reinforcement of security in the area, fearing further attacks may follow.