Suspected bandits abducted 20 passengers along the link road between the Mariga and Kontagora local government areas of Niger State, Nigeria.
The passengers were travelling on the road when bandits, who had set up a blockade, forced them into a nearby forest. The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, who represents Mariga Constituency, confirmed the abduction on Thursday.
Sarkin-Daji told reporters the incident took place when bandits blocked the Mariga-Kontagora road between Baban-Lamba and Beri. He said families of previously kidnapped victims had repeatedly taken ransom payments into a forested area, reportedly near military training grounds, where victims claimed they were held within sight of the Kontagora Army Barracks.
The Speaker urged the military to act on accurate information and remove the bandits from the area, warning that local communities allege the military training grounds have become a haven for the criminals. He emphasized that legislators often receive direct feedback from constituents about their hardships and thoroughly investigate these issues before raising them.
Despite the military’s previous dismissal of such complaints, the Speaker said bandits blocked the road and abducted over 20 passengers on October 31, relocating them to the same forest. Sarkin-Daji called on the military to clear the area of the criminals and assured that the legislature would continue to raise awareness to ensure the federal government and stakeholders understand the plight of the people.
The abduction of the bus passengers highlights the ongoing security challenges in Niger State, Nigeria, where banditry and kidnapping have become prevalent. The Speaker’s appeals for the military to address the issue within the vicinity of its own training grounds underscores the complex dynamics between local communities, lawmakers and security forces in combating these criminal activities.
