By Oluwakemi Kindness
A joint team of Nigerian military and police personnel has moved into a forest in Niger State in a fresh effort to rescue more than 47 farmers abducted by suspected bandits.
The operation is taking place around Mukura village in the Kasuwan-Garba District of Mariga Local Government Area.
The Niger State Police Command spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the operation on Wednesday.
Abiodun said security personnel were combing the area following reports that more than 20 people were abducted from Mukura village on September 27.
He said the joint rescue operation was ongoing.
The victims were reportedly abducted while harvesting groundnuts on their farms at Tungan Rimi in Ma’undu-Beri Ward of Mariga LGA.
Most of those abducted are women, alongside some men.
The Chairman of Mariga LGA, Aliyu Muhamadu, confirmed the abduction and said the number of victims is more than 47.
He also disclosed that one of the women gave birth while in captivity.
According to the chairman, the abductors have contacted some relatives of the victims and were demanding N2 million for the release of each person.
Muhamadu said security personnel and local vigilantes had been mobilised to rescue the victims.
He said the security team and vigilantes engaged the bandits in a gun battle at Alibani village after passing through Kasuwan-Garba and Biri. One vigilante was injured during the encounter.
