Gunmen Kidnap Niger Village Head, Demand N80 Million Ransom

On Friday, gunmen abducted the village head in Niger, demanding a ransom of N80 million for his release. A local resident, Aliyu Usman, reported that the bandits invaded the village during the early hours, firing shots while surrounding the residence of the village head.

Following the abduction, the bandits also attacked Fanga community in Mashegu Local Government Area, resulting in the death of a farmer and the kidnapping of four others. Usman highlighted that Mashegu has faced a series of attacks over the past week, leading to multiple kidnappings, cattle rustling, and a mass exodus of residents from their homes.

The deteriorating security situation has severely impacted local farming activities, with residents unable to cultivate their lands during the rainy season, threatening their livelihoods. Usman called for urgent government intervention to address the escalating violence.

The police spokesperson in Niger State, Wasiu Abiodun, stated he would verify the incident but had not provided updates by the time of reporting.