Bandits have kidnapped at least 56 people, including women and children in Kankuru, Adogon-Mallam, and Tungan-Kawo villages in Munya and Shiroro local government areas of Niger State.
It was gathered that 30 people were kidnapped in Kankuru village on Sunday night, while 26 others were abducted in Adogon-Mallam and Tungan-Kawo communities in Shiroro Local Government Area.
Kankuru village is just a kilometre away from Kuchi, where 150 people, including pregnant women, nursing mothers and children were recently kidnapped.
The chairman of Munya Local Government, Aminu Najume, confirmed the latest incident, saying 220 farmers from the local government area are currently in bandits' captivity.
"Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has been trying for us. I am begging the federal government to come to our aid so that we can win this war. Currently, 220 of my people are in captivity and their abductors have been demanding several ransoms," he said.
Residents of Munya Local Government said the bandits were demanding N63 million, three motorcycles and 10 bags of 100kg rice for the release of the captives.
A local government official who spoke on condition of anonymity told our correspondent that attacks and abductions had become daily occurrences in the local government area. The victims are held captive by different gangs of terrorists.
"One of the gangs holding 20 people is demanding N10 million, three motorcycles and 10 bags of rice. Another group is demanding N53 million. Other gangs have not contacted us yet.
"Currently, we know that some of our people are in Zamfara State while others are held within Niger State. Those kidnapped from Kapana village recently are still in captivity. Only a few have been able to pay ransom and regain freedom.
"As I speak with you, we don't have the exact number of our people in bandits' captivity because kidnappings happen almost every day. Anybody who gives you any figure may not be telling the truth.
"Scores of our people are in captivity. We don't know their exact number. So far, three groups have called. We are collating the numbers as groups of bandits continue to call for negotiation," the official said.
The director-general of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Abdullah Baba Arah, confirmed the abduction of 26 farmers in Tungan-Kawo and Adogon-Mallam villages on Sunday and Monday.
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Arah also mentioned that hundreds of cattle were rustled by the assailants.
Bandits kill sick boy for walking slowly
Meanwhile, terrorists have reportedly shot a seven-year-old boy dead because he was unable to move quickly.
Displaced residents said the incident occurred in Kapana village, Munya Local Government Area, where terrorists recently kidnapped an unspecified number of people.
A resident recounted that the boy had been sick, a fact unknown to the terrorists until after they had left.
"Instead of allowing the boy to return home, they decided to take his life. We have seen many ungodly things in the hands of bandits, including rape," he said in a distressed voice over the phone.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the Niger State police command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, promised to get back to our reporter but had not done so at the time of filing this report last night.
