Twenty-four farmers, including pregnant women, were abducted on Wednesday when armed bandits stormed a rice farm in the Palaita community of Erena Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Residents said the attackers struck around 2:00 p.m. while farmers were harvesting their crops.
Despite Palaita being only a short distanceabout five kilometresfrom a military base in Erena, the bandits reportedly fled with the victims before security forces arrived.
Earlier the same day, another armed group invaded Kakuru, also within Erena Ward.
The assailants allegedly assaulted a blind man who was alone at home, taking a mobile phone from him and severing his right hand after he explained that the device belonged to a neighbour who had gone to the farm.
The victim is now receiving basic medical attention at a patent medicine shop in Kuduru community.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed the incident. Police Public Relations Officer Wasiu Abiodun said a report was received Wednesday night indicating that gunmen had kidnapped several people from Angwan-Kawo and Kuchipa villages within Shiroro LGA.
He added that coordinated efforts were underway to rescue all abducted persons.
This latest assault comes just days after gunmen kidnapped more than 300 students and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, heightening fears over the surge in abductions across northern Nigeria.
Niger State, like several parts of the region, has faced relentless attacks from bandits involved in mass kidnappings, assaults on rural communities, and violent raids for ransom.
