Suspected terrorists have abducted 14 students of an Islamic school and their teacher in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State. The incident occurred on Saturday, October 31, 2026, when the victims were working on a maize farm in Tungan-Bako village, near Pandogari. The students had accompanied their Islamic teacher, popularly known as Mallam, to the farm to assist with harvesting maize when the attackers stormed the area and took them away.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed the abduction on Monday, putting the number of missing students at 14. The police clarified that the figure was different from earlier reports suggesting that as many as 50 students had been taken. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, said the attackers invaded the community at about 12:30 pm and abducted people working on the farm.
According to the police spokesman, the victims included students of an Islamic school who had gone to assist their teacher with the maize harvest. Abiodun gave details of the incident in a statement, saying that the abducted victims were about 14 students of an Islamiya helping their Mallam to harvest maize on the farm before the incident. He assured residents that security personnel were working to secure the release of the abducted victims.
A joint security operation has been launched, although the police did not provide further details about the number of personnel involved or the specific locations being covered during the rescue operation. The command also promised to communicate additional developments as efforts to locate the victims continued. The abduction has renewed concerns about the activities of armed groups in Rafi Local Government Area and other parts of Niger State.
Rural communities in Niger State have faced security challenges, including attacks on residents, kidnappings, and threats to farming activities. The latest incident is particularly troubling because the victims were students who had accompanied their teacher to carry out an agricultural activity. Although the police have confirmed that 14 students were abducted, the teacher was also reportedly among those taken away by the attackers.
The abduction has triggered criticism of the Niger State Government over its handling of insecurity. Jonathan Vatsa, spokesman for the Social Democratic Party governorship candidate, condemned Governor Mohammed Bago over what he described as the government’s failure to adequately address the security challenges facing the state. Vatsa accused the governor of paying insufficient attention to the protection of residents while remaining occupied with political activities and electioneering.
The immediate concern remains the safe return of the 14 students and their teacher. The police have not disclosed whether the attackers made contact with the victims’ families or demanded ransom. Residents will be hoping that the ongoing joint security operation leads to the immediate rescue of the victims. The police have urged patience as the rescue operation continues, promising to provide further information when there are verified developments.
Key points
- The incident has raised fresh concerns about the security situation in Niger State, particularly the safety of schoolchildren and residents in rural communities.
- The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the abduction and launched a joint security operation to rescue the victims.
- The abduction has triggered criticism of the Niger State Government over its handling of insecurity.
