The Niger State Police Command has deployed tactical teams alongside military personnel to rescue more than 100 residents abducted by suspected terrorists in Maburya community, Mariga Local Government Area of the state.
The victims were abducted on Saturday night after the assailants reportedly invaded the community and fired several shots into the air before taking the residents into the surrounding forest.
The incident is the latest in a series of mass abductions recorded across Niger State.
More than 500 residents were reportedly abducted from Borgu Local Government Area in August, with the victims still being held by their captors.
A security source, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the incident, said the proximity of Mariga to the Kainji Lake National Park and other forest reserves had made it difficult for security agencies to track the terrorists.
Meanwhile, a resident said about 100 of those abducted from the area were released by the terrorists on Tuesday morning, leaving three others in captivity.
The resident added that the remaining victims were also promised freedom. However, the police have not confirmed the reported release.
The spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the abduction in a telephone interview with The Punch on Tuesday but declined to confirm the reported release of the captives.
“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,” he said.
