A joint security team comprising Nigerian military and police personnel has been deployed to a forest in Niger State to rescue 47 farmers abducted by suspected bandits. The abduction occurred on September 27, 2026, at Mukura village, Kasuwan-Garba District, in Mariga Local Government Area. The spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the deployment, stating that operatives were combing the area to rescue the victims.
According to reports, the suspected bandits abducted over 47 farmers, mostly women, while they were harvesting groundnuts on their farms at Tungan Rimi in Ma'undu-Beri Ward of the LGA. The Chairman of Mariga Local Government, Alhaji Aliyu Muhamadu, confirmed the abduction, stating that the majority of the victims were women, alongside some men. He also disclosed that one of the women gave birth while in captivity.
The abductors have reportedly contacted some relatives of the victims, demanding N2 million from each victim for their release. Muhamadu also revealed that security personnel and local vigilantes had been mobilized to rescue the victims. A gun battle ensued between the joint security personnel and the vigilantes with the terrorists at Alibani village, resulting in a vigilante sustaining injuries.
A source in Mariga LGA reported sighting the armed men moving through the areas between Mangoro and Wamba after emerging from the Dogon Dawa axis. The terrorists allegedly moved into the Bariki Forest, also known as Ma'undu, where the victims are suspected to be held. The Niger State Police Command has confirmed that joint security rescue efforts are ongoing.
The deployment of the joint security team is a significant development in the efforts to rescue the abducted farmers. The Nigerian military and police have been working together to combat banditry and other forms of insecurity in the region. The incident has raised concerns about the security situation in Niger State and the need for sustained efforts to protect citizens.
The abduction of the farmers has also highlighted the challenges faced by communities in rural areas, where access to security is often limited. The incident has sparked fears among residents, who are calling for increased security presence in the area. The government has been urged to take decisive action to address the issue of banditry and ensure the safe release of the abducted farmers.
The rescue mission is ongoing, with security operatives working to locate and rescue the abducted farmers. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between security agencies and local communities to address the threat of banditry and other forms of insecurity in the region.
Key points
- - A joint security team has been deployed to rescue 47 farmers abducted by suspected bandits in Niger State. - The abductors have demanded N2 million from each victim for their release. - One of the abducted women gave birth while in captivity.
