A joint security team comprising personnel of the Nigerian military and the Nigeria Police Force has launched a search operation in a forest in Niger State for farmers abducted by suspected bandits.
Wasiu Abiodun, the Police PRO disclosed this in a statement, saying the operatives were combing the Mukura area of Kasuwan-Garba District in Mariga Local Government Area.
Abiodun said the Police received a report on September 28 that more than 20 people were abducted at Mukura village the previous day.
‘Reports received on 28th Sept 2026 indicated that on 27th Sept 2026 at about 3pm, suspected bandits abducted over twenty persons at Mukura village, Kasuwan-Garba District of Mariga LGA. Joint security rescue efforts ongoing,’ he stated.
However, a local government source said more than 47 farmers were abducted while harvesting groundnuts at their farms in Tungan Rimi, Ma’undu-Beri Ward of Mariga LGA.
The source said most of the victims were women, alongside some men, adding that one of the abducted women reportedly gave birth while in captivity.
the abductors had contacted some relatives of the victims and were demanding N2 million for the release of each hostage.
‘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.
Muhamadu said security personnel, supported by local vigilantes, had been mobilised to rescue the victims.
He added that the joint security team and vigilantes engaged the suspected bandits in a gun battle at Alibani village after passing through Kasuwan-Garba and Biri, during which a vigilante sustained injuries.
‘The joint security personnel and the vigilantes engaged the terrorists in a gun battle at Alibani village after passing through Kasuwan Garba and Biri, during which a vigilante sustained injuries,’ he said.
A source in Mariga LGA, who requested anonymity, also revealed that armed men were sighted moving through the area between Mangoro and Wamba after emerging from the Dogon Dawa axis.
The source said the men moved towards the Bariki Forest, also known as Ma’undu, where the abducted farmers were suspected to be held.