Suspected armed bandits abducted 47 farmers in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, demanding ₦2 million ransom for each victim, local authorities confirmed. The abductions occurred on Saturday afternoon as victims harvested groundnuts in Tungan Rimi, Ma’undu-Beri Ward. Mariga LGA Chairman Alhaji Aliyu Bagga Muhamadu stated that the attackers also seized additional farm workers and that one abducted woman had given birth while in captivity. Security forces and local vigilantes have been deployed to rescue the victims, engaging suspected bandits near Alibani village after traversing Kasuwan Garba and Biri, with a vigilante sustaining injuries during the operation.
The Niger State Police Command reported a separate abduction of over 20 individuals in Mukura village, Kasuwan-Garba District, on September 27, with the incident documented on September 28. Police Public Relations Officer SP Wasiu Abiodun noted that joint security efforts to locate the victims were ongoing. The discrepancy between the 47 abductions cited by the local council and the police’s 20 victims remains unresolved, complicating coordinated rescue efforts. Sources indicated the attackers moved through areas between Mangoro and Wamba, allegedly emerging from the Dogon Dawa axis, before retreating into the Bariki Forest, also known as Ma’undu, where the captives are believed to be held.
Relatives of the victims reported no direct contact with their loved ones, relying on fragmented reports suggesting the captives are held in the Ma’undu Forest. The Mariga LGA chairman emphasized that abductors had contacted families to negotiate ransoms, though no payments have been confirmed. Security agencies continue to navigate conflicting accounts while prioritizing the rescue mission. The incident underscores escalating violence in the region, where banditry has increasingly targeted agricultural communities, disrupting livelihoods and heightening fears among residents.
The crisis has intensified calls for improved security coordination, with local leaders and law enforcement grappling with the challenges of locating and freeing the captives. As rescue operations persist, the lack of clarity on the exact number of abductees and their whereabouts highlights the complexities of addressing organized banditry in Niger State. Authorities have urged families to remain patient while emphasizing their commitment to resolving the situation through sustained efforts.