Bandits abduct village head in Niger State, demand N80m ransom

Suspected bandits have abducted the village head of Patiko, Zugurma District, Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, Mallam Haruna Abubakar.

A resident of the area, Aliyu Usman, told Daily Trust that the bandit invaded the village in the wee hours on Friday, July 31, 2026 and shot sporadically while surrounding the residence of the village before taking him away.

The bandits called on Saturday, demanding N80 million before he could be released.

He said the bandits also raided Fanga community in Mashegu LGA, k!lled a farmer and kidnapped four others.

“Mashegu Local Government has suffered a series of attacks in the last one week. Several people have been kidnapped, a large number of cattle have been rustled and many people have fled their homes, he said.

“We live in constant fear because bandits come anytime to attack us.”

Usman said the deteriorating security situation in the area did not allow farmers in the area to engage in farming this rainy season.

“It is through farming that we eat. Now, we have abandoned our farmlands; our livelihoods have been destroyed. We need urgent government intervention,” he added.