One of 47 farmers abducted in Tugan-Rimi, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, has given birth while in captivity, Dailytrust reports.
The Chairman of Mariga LGA, Aliyu Bagga Muhammadu, confirmed the incident.
The farmers were reportedly abducted on Saturday while harvesting groundnuts on their farms. Muhammadu said the bandits were demanding N2 million for each victim, amounting to N94 million in total.
“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 said security operatives had been mobilised and were tracking the abductors to secure the victims’ release.
Muhammadu added that joint security operatives had earlier engaged the abductors around the Kasuwan Garba and Beri axis, during which a vigilante sustained injuries.
The armed men were also reportedly seen moving between Mangoro and Wamba after allegedly emerging from the Dogon Dawa axis.
The Niger State Police Command spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, saying more than 20 people were abducted.
“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.