More than 80 people have been reportedly abducted in separate attacks by suspected bandits across communities in Niger and Zamfara states, in a fresh wave of kidnappings targeting farmers and other residents in northern Nigeria. The attacks occurred over the weekend, with the victims reportedly targeted in rural communities and on farms, where residents remain vulnerable to armed groups operating across large forested areas of the North-West and North-Central regions.
In Niger State, the Police Command confirmed the abduction of more than 20 people at Mukura village in Kasuwan-Garba District of Mariga Local Government Area. The attack occurred at about 3:00 pm on Sunday, September 27, according to the command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Wasiu. Wasiu stated that joint security teams had commenced rescue operations aimed at locating the victims and securing their release.
The latest incident occurred barely 24 hours after another mass abduction was reported in the same Mariga Local Government Area. According to reports, at least 47 farmers, most of them women, were kidnapped by suspected bandits while harvesting groundnuts in the area on Saturday. The victims were reportedly working on their farms when the attackers struck, taking them away from the farming community.
In neighbouring Zamfara State, about 40 women were also reportedly abducted at Yargada community near Gusau on Sunday. The attacks come amid persistent insecurity across parts of northern Nigeria, where armed gangs have continued to raid villages, attack farmers, abduct residents and demand ransom for their release.
Farmers in the affected areas are under threat as bandit groups operating across parts of the North-West and North-Central regions have increasingly targeted farmers, particularly during periods of planting and harvesting. The gangs frequently raid villages, attack farmers, steal cattle and other property, and abduct residents for ransom.
For communities in affected areas, the consequences extend beyond the immediate loss of family members. Fear of abduction has forced some farmers to abandon their farms or limit the time they spend in remote locations, raising concerns over agricultural output and the livelihoods of rural households. The situation has also complicated efforts by authorities to maintain food production in areas already grappling with displacement and insecurity.
The Niger State Police Command and other security agencies have launched investigations into the abductions and are working to secure the release of the victims. Authorities have also been urged to take decisive action to address the growing insecurity in the region and prevent further attacks on farming communities.
Key points
- More than 80 people abducted in separate attacks by bandits in Niger and Zamfara states.
- The attacks occurred over the weekend, targeting rural communities and farms.
- The abductions highlight the continuing threat posed by armed criminal gangs to farming communities across northern Nigeria.
