Tactical teams of the military and police have been deployed to rescue more than 100 residents abducted by suspected terrorists in Maburya community, Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State.
The victims were abducted after suspected bandits invaded the community on Saturday night and reportedly fired sporadically into the air before taking residents into the forest.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed the incident on Tuesday, saying security forces had intensified efforts to rescue the captives.
The command’s spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, said the police received a report from the Bangi Division at about 8pm on September 13, 2026, that suspected bandits had invaded Maburya village through Bangi and abducted an unspecified number of people.
According to him, the attackers later released some elderly and pregnant women, including nursing mothers, while other victims were taken away.
“On 13/9/2026 at about 8 pm, a report was received from Bangi Division indicating that suspected bandits invaded Maburya village via Bangi and abducted an unspecified number of victims, later releasing elderly and pregnant women, including nursing mothers, while others were taken away.
“Police and military tactical teams have been deployed to the location, while rescue efforts are intensified. Further developments will be made available to the public,” Abiodun said.
The latest abduction comes amid a wave of mass kidnappings across Niger State.
More than 500 people were reportedly abducted from the Borgu area of New Bussa Local Government Area in August, with the victims still being held by the terrorists, according to reports cited in the source material.
A security source, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to discuss the operation, said Mariga’s proximity to the expansive Kainji Lake National Park and other forest reserves provided cover for terrorists and made it difficult for security agencies to track them.
However, a local resident claimed that about 100 of the abducted Maburya residents had been released by the terrorists on Tuesday morning, leaving three people in captivity.
The resident said the remaining three had also been promised release, but the police did not confirm the claim.
The police maintained that rescue operations were ongoing as security agencies continued efforts to locate and recover the remaining abducted residents.