One of the abducted 47 farmers in Tugan-Rimi, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, has been delivered of a child in captivity.
The chairman of Mariga LGA, Aliyu Bagga Muhammadu, confirmed the incident on Tuesday.
The 47 farmers were abducted, while harvesting groundnuts on their farms on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
According to Muhammadu, the bandits are demanding N94 million ransom from families of the abducted farmers.
He said that the bandits are demanding N2 million for each of the abductees.
“My local government is faced with a serious security challenge. The information at my disposal indicates that women were harvesting groundnuts on their farm, when bandits invaded the area and assembled them and took them away. They also saw some men working on their farms and took them away. But women formed the majority of those kidnapped. One of the women had given birth in Captivity,” he said.
He added that security operatives have been mobilized and are following the trail of the abductors to ensure the safe release of the victims.
He noted that the joint security operatives had earlier engaged the abductors around Kasuwan Garba and Beri axis during which one of the vigilantes sustained injuries.
It was further revealed that the armed men were reportedly seen moving through areas between Mangoro and Wamba after allegedly emerging from the Dogon Dawa axis.
The Spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, saying that over 20 people were kidnapped.
“On 28th Sept 2026, a report 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 are ongoing,” he said.