Bandits have brazenly kidnapped 20 farmers in the peaceful community of Unguwan-Kawo, Niger State. This shocking incident has included four pregnant women and several innocent children, sending the area into a frenzy of fear and unrest.

The audacity of the kidnappers is mind-boggling, as they struck at approximately 4 p.m. while these hardworking farmers were harvesting rice,just a mere 500 meters from a military camp in Erena town.

One terrified local, who preferred to remain anonymous (no doubt fearing the wrath of these ruthless criminals), revealed that his nephew was among those taken. He voiced a chilling sentiment that echoes throughout the community: “We thought we were safe because of the military presence, but this incident has shattered that illusion.” With families left shattered and terrified, the very foundation of community trust has been eroded.

This distressing abduction comes on the heels of another shocking incident just six days earlier, where a staggering 300 students, staff, and pupils were snatched from St. Mary Secondary and Primary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area. 

When approached for a comment, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, acknowledged the heart-wrenching report but merely stated he would “verify” the details. The community is now trapped in a cycle of anxiety, desperately hoping for the safe return of their loved ones while feeling utterly abandoned by the very systems meant to protect them.

This ongoing wave of banditry in Niger State underscores the dire need for immediate enhancements to security measures and robust community support systems. Vulnerable populations, especially in rural areas, are becoming victims of an increasingly frequent crisis.