Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
A joint team of military and police personnel has entered a forest in Niger State in an effort to rescue more than 47 farmers abducted by suspected bandits in Mariga Local Government Area.
The operation is focused on the Mukura area of Kasuwan-Garba District, where security personnel are searching for the victims and their abductors, according to the spokesman for the police, Wasiu Abiodun.
Abiodun said in a message on Wednesday that security forces were combing the area following reports of an abduction at Mukura village.
“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.
The victims were abducted while harvesting groundnuts at farms in Tungan Rimi, Ma’undu-Beri Ward, according to information from the area.
Chairman of Mariga Local Government, Aliyu Muhamadu, confirmed the incident and said more than 47 farmers were taken. He said most of those abducted were women, while some men were also among the victims.
Muhamadu disclosed that one of the women gave birth while in captivity, while the abductors have contacted some relatives and demanded N2m for the release of each victim.
“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.
The council chairman also said security personnel and local vigilantes had been mobilised to locate and rescue the farmers.
“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,” Muhamadu said.
A source in Mariga said the armed men were seen moving through areas between Mangoro and Wamba after emerging from the Dogon Dawa axis.
The source said the group subsequently moved into Bariki Forest, also known as Ma’undu, where the abducted farmers are suspected to be held.
The ongoing operation comes as security agencies intensify efforts to locate the victims and prevent further attacks on farming communities in Niger State.
