Joint forces search Niger forest for abducted farmers

A joint team of Nigerian military and police personnel has entered a forest in Niger State in an effort to rescue farmers abducted by suspected bandits, according to the state police command. Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun said in a WhatsApp message on Wednesday that operatives were searching around Mukura village in the Kasuwan-Garba District of Mariga Local Government Area. “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,” Abiodun said. However, the chairman of Mariga Local Government, Alhaji Aliyu Muhamadu, said more than 47 farmers were abducted while harvesting groundnuts at Tungan Rimi in Ma’undu-Beri Ward. He said most of the victims were women, alongside a few men.

Muhamadu said one of the women had given birth while in captivity. He also said the abductors had contacted some relatives and were demanding N2m for the release of each victim. “Yes, some of my people were abducted and they were in the farm harvesting groundnuts,” he said.

“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.” The chairman said security personnel and local vigilantes had been mobilised. He added that they engaged the suspected attackers in a gun battle at Alibani village after moving through Kasuwan Garba and Biri, during which a vigilante was injured.

An unnamed Mariga resident told The PUNCH that armed men had been seen moving between Mangoro and Wamba before entering Bariki Forest, also known as Ma’undu, where the abducted farmers were suspected to be held. The supplied material did not report any rescue or arrests.