Niger State Begins Farmers’ Rescue Operation 

A joint team of military and police personnel has launched a rescue operation for farmers abducted by suspected bandits in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.

The spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a WhatsApp message on Wednesday, according to Punch, saying security operatives were combing the forest around Mukura village in the Kasuwan-Garba District of the local government area.

Abiodun said the operation followed reports that suspected bandits abducted more than 20 people from Mukura village at about 3 pm on September 27, adding that joint efforts to rescue the victims were ongoing.

“Reports received on 28th Sept 2026 indicated that on 27th Sept 2026 at about 3 pm, suspected bandits abducted over twenty persons at Mukura village, Kasuwan-Garba District of Mariga LGA. Joint security rescue efforts ongoing,” Abiodun stated.

However, reports from Punch state that more than 47 farmers were abducted while harvesting groundnuts on their farms in Tungan Rimi, Ma’undu-Beri Ward of Mariga LGA.

Most of the victims were women, while a few men were also among those abducted.

The Chairman of Mariga Local Government Area, Alhaji Aliyu Muhamadu, confirmed the incident on Tuesday and said more than 47 people were taken. He added that one of the women gave birth while in captivity.

Muhamadu also disclosed that the abductors had contacted some relatives of the victims and were demanding N2 million for the release of each person.

“Yes, some of my people were abducted and they were in the farm harvesting groundnuts. Many of them are women and there were some men. One of the women gave birth in the abductors camp and the abductors are asking for N2 million from each victim,” he said. 

He said security personnel and local vigilantes had been mobilised to rescue the victims, adding that the joint team and vigilantes engaged the abductors in a gun battle at Alibani village after passing through Kasuwan-Garba and Biri. 

One vigilante was reportedly injured during the encounter.