Nigerian security forces are facing increased pressure as they battle various armed groups across the country. On Saturday, at least 47 farmers were abducted by armed men while harvesting peanuts in Niger state. The incident occurred in Rimi, an agricultural community in the Mariga area. A security report prepared for humanitarian groups confirmed the attack, but did not provide a toll.
On Sunday, 40 women were kidnapped in the neighbouring state of Zamfara. The women were taken from Yargada, in the Gusau area. A local source reported that the attack on Yargada was carried out in reprisal after local vigilantes had killed a number of bandits. The bandits have been terrorising rural communities in northwestern and central Nigeria for years, specialising in ransom kidnappings and cattle rustling.
The kidnappings are the latest mass abductions to rock Nigeria. Bandits regularly carry out bloody raids on villages, killing residents and torching homes after looting them. Jihadists in Nigeria also use kidnapping as a money-making tactic and have at times collaborated with bandit gangs. However, the latter are motivated by money more than ideology, sometimes leading to clashes between the groups.
A local resident, Adamu Lawwali, reported that his village, Magama Mairake, and neighbouring Maikogo were also hit in the Yargada raid. He stated that the bandits have been burning homes in Magama Mairake since the attack. The death toll from the kidnapping is likely higher than reported, according to Lawwali and Umar Abdullahi, a Magami resident.
Kidnapping has become a key source of income for criminal groups in Nigeria. According to research from SBM Intelligence, armed groups raised some 7.8 billion naira -- nearly $6 million -- in ransom payments between July 2025 and June 2026. This is more than triple the 2.6 billion naira paid during the same period last year.
Security, along with the rising cost of living, is set to be a major issue in January's presidential elections. While the government has touted successes against the country's various armed groups, violence is worsening, according to researchers. The jihadist insurgency is concentrated in the northeast, but attacks have been reported near the western border with Benin.
The Nigerian government faces a significant challenge in addressing the security concerns of its citizens. The recent mass kidnappings highlight the need for effective measures to combat armed groups and protect vulnerable communities. The government must work to address the root causes of the violence and ensure the safety of its citizens ahead of the presidential elections.
Key points
- More than 80 people, mostly women, were abducted in two separate weekend attacks in northern Nigeria.
- Kidnapping has become a key source of income for criminal groups in Nigeria, with armed groups raising 7.8 billion naira in ransom payments between July 2025 and June 2026.
- Security and the rising cost of living are set to be major issues in January's presidential elections.
