Captive Farmer in Niger State Delivers Baby as Bandits Seek N94m Ransom

A distressing incident has unfolded in Niger State, where one of the 47 farmers abducted from Tugan-Rimi, located in the Mariga Local Government Area, has given birth while still in captivity. The chairman of Mariga LGA, Aliyu Bagga Muhammadu, officially confirmed this development on Tuesday.

The farmers were reportedly seized by bandits on Saturday, September 26, 2026, as they were harvesting groundnuts on their farms. According to Muhammadu, the abductors are now demanding a staggering N94 million ransom for the release of their captives, translating to N2 million for each individual.

Elaborating on the dire situation, Muhammadu stated, “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 kidn*pped. One of the women had given birth in Captivity.”

He further added that security agencies have been mobilized and are actively tracking the abductors in an effort to secure the safe return of the victims. He mentioned that joint security operatives had previously engaged the criminals around the Kasuwan Garba and Beri areas, an encounter that left one vigilante injured.

Reports indicate that the armed group was sighted moving through the areas between Mangoro and Wamba, having reportedly emerged from the Dogon Dawa axis.

Confirming the abduction, the Spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, stated that over 20 people were kidn*pped. He elaborated, “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.” This statement from the police indicates a slight discrepancy in the reported number of abductees and the exact date of the incident compared to the LGA chairman's account, but confirms the core event.