Barely one week after the abduction of more than 300 students from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, bandits have struck again—this time targeting residents of Palaita community in Erena Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area.
According to local sources, the attackers stormed the community in the early hours of the day, abducting a pregnant woman along with at least 30 other residents. The heavily armed bandits reportedly operated for hours without resistance, terrorizing villagers before herding their captives into the forest.
The latest incident has heightened fear and tension across Niger State, which has suffered repeated attacks in recent weeks. Communities in Shiroro, Munya, and Rafi LGAs remain particularly vulnerable as bandit groups intensify their operations.
There are also unconfirmed reports of related attacks affecting some border communities between Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), raising concerns about the expanding reach of the armed groups.
Local leaders have renewed their calls for urgent intervention from both state and federal authorities, stressing that residents can no longer sleep peacefully or go about their daily activities without fear of being kidnapped.
Security agencies are yet to release an official statement on the latest abductions. However, search-and-rescue efforts are expected to begin as pressure mounts for swift action.