N80m ransom demanded for Patiko village head seized by bandits

A disturbing trend of insecurity has continued to plague Niger State, as suspected bandits have abducted the village head of Patiko, Zugurma District, Mashegu Local Government Area, identified as Mallam Haruna Abubakar. According to a resident, Aliyu Usman, the bandits launched a surprise attack on the village in the early hours of Friday, July 31, 2026, firing shots indiscriminately as they surrounded the village head's residence before taking him away. The kidnappers subsequently made contact on Saturday, demanding a ransom of N80 million for the safe release of their captive. Furthermore, the bandits also carried out a raid on the Fanga community in Mashegu LGA, resulting in the death of a farmer and the kidnapping of four other individuals. The recent spate of attacks in Mashegu Local Government has left the community reeling, with multiple kidnappings, cattle rustling, and a general sense of fear among the residents. As Aliyu Usman aptly put it, 'We live in constant fear because bandits come anytime to attack us.' The deteriorating security situation has also had a profound impact on the local farming community, with many farmers abandoning their farmlands due to the pervasive fear of bandit attacks. 'It is through farming that we eat. Now, we have abandoned our farmlands; our livelihoods have been destroyed. We need urgent government intervention,' Usman lamented.