By Ekunode Ayomipo
Fresh concerns have emerged over the worsening security situation in parts of Niger State after suspected bandits reportedly set ablaze the Central Primary School in Dekara, Borgu Local Government Area, despite allegedly receiving a ₦10 million protection levy from communities within the district.
According to residents who spoke to journalists, the armed men invaded Dekara after emerging from the Kainji Lake National Park, where criminal groups have long been suspected of operating. Community members claimed the attackers had earlier imposed a ₦10 million levy on villages in the area, threatening devastating attacks if the demand was not met. In an effort to protect lives and property, residents reportedly contributed the money with the hope that the communities would be spared.
However, despite the payment, the gunmen allegedly launched an attack on the district headquarters, setting the Central Primary School on fire and forcing residents to flee. The incident has left many families displaced and has further disrupted access to education for children in the affected community.
Residents described the attack as a betrayal, saying the payment had been made under duress after assurances that the communities would no longer be targeted. The destruction of the school has intensified fears among locals, many of whom have abandoned their homes for safer areas and informal internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
The latest incident adds to a growing pattern of insecurity across several local government areas in Niger State, including Borgu, Shiroro, Munya, Rafi and Agwara, where armed groups have continued to carry out kidnappings, killings, extortion and attacks on rural communities. Security analysts have repeatedly warned that the forests surrounding the Kainji Lake National Park provide difficult terrain that allows criminal groups to operate and evade security forces.
Reports also indicate that, around the same period, armed bandits attacked communities in Shiroro Local Government Area, leaving at least one person dead while another was reportedly abducted, underscoring the persistent security challenges facing many parts of the state.
As of the latest reports, authorities were yet to issue a comprehensive official statement specifically addressing the Dekara school attack. Meanwhile, residents continue to call for stronger security measures, increased military presence and lasting solutions to end the cycle of violence that has devastated communities across Niger State.
The incident highlights the growing humanitarian and security crisis in rural Nigeria, where attacks on schools and civilian infrastructure continue to threaten lives, education and economic activities despite ongoing security operations.
