NIGER: MILITARY, POLICE LAUNCH OPERATION TO RESCUE 47 ABDUCTED FARMERS

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A joint security team comprising personnel of the Nigerian military and the Nigeria Police Force has launched a search operation in forests in Niger State to rescue farmers abducted by suspected bandits.

The state police spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this on Wednesday in a WhatsApp message, saying security operatives were combing the Mukura area of Kasuwan-Garba District in Mariga Local Government Area.

Abiodun said the command received a report on September 28 that more than 20 people were abducted at Mukura village the previous day.

“Reports received on 28th September 2026 indicated that on 27th September 2026 at about 3 pm, suspected bandits abducted over twenty persons at Mukura village, Kasuwan-Garba District of Mariga LGA. Joint security rescue efforts are ongoing,” he stated.

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However, sources in the area said the number of victims could be higher, with more than 47 farmers reportedly abducted while harvesting groundnuts at Tungan Rimi in Ma’undu-Beri Ward of Mariga LGA.

Most of the victims were reportedly women, while a few men were also among those abducted.

The Chairman of Mariga Local Government Area, Alhaji Aliyu Muhamadu, confirmed the incident and said more than 47 people were taken by the attackers.

According to him, one of the abducted women reportedly gave birth while in captivity.

Muhamadu also disclosed that the abductors had contacted some relatives of the victims and were demanding N2 million for the release of each hostage.

“Yes, some of my people were abducted, and they were in the farm harvesting groundnuts. Many of them are women, and there were some men. One of the women gave birth in the abductors’ camp, and the abductors are asking for N2m for each victim,” he said.

The council chairman said security personnel and local vigilantes had been mobilised to rescue the victims.

He added that the joint security team and vigilantes engaged the suspected bandits in a gun battle at Alibani village after passing through Kasuwan-Garba and Biri, during which a vigilante sustained injuries.

A source in Mariga LGA, who spoke anonymously, said armed men were sighted moving through areas between Mangoro and Wamba after emerging from the Dogon Dawa axis.

The source said the attackers subsequently moved into the Bariki Forest, also known as Ma’undu, where the abducted farmers were suspected to be held.

Security agencies are continuing efforts to locate the victims and secure their release.