By Fatima Mukhtar
Twenty farmers have been abducted by armed bandits in a fresh attack on Unguwan-Kawo, a community in Erena Ward of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The incident occurred around 4:00 p.m. while the victims were harvesting rice on their farmlands. Witnesses said the attackers stormed the area in large numbers, shooting sporadically before whisking the farmers into the forest.
Reports indicate that the abducted persons include women, children and four pregnant women, raising fresh concerns about rising insecurity and repeated attacks on farming communities in the region. The latest incident comes just days after another major abduction in the state, underscoring the growing threat faced by rural residents.
Local sources say no official statement has yet been issued by security agencies or the state government regarding the attack. Efforts to reach the Niger State Police Command for comments were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.
Shiroro, Munya and Rafi local government areas have remained hotspots of banditry in Niger State, with hundreds of residents kidnapped in recent months. Community leaders continue to call on the government for increased security presence and urgent intervention to protect farmers as the harvest season continues.
More details are expected as authorities and locals work to verify the identities of the victims and the circumstances surrounding their abduction.
