A group of suspected armed bandits has launched a brazen attack on the Fugge community in the Rijau Local Government Area of Niger State, resulting in the abduction of the village head, Mallam Abdullahi Zaure, and 49 other individuals.

According to a community member who requested anonymity, the majority of those abducted during the attack that occurred last Friday were women and children, with a few adult males also taken captive. Additionally, a significant number of cattle were rustled during the assault.

Eyewitnesses reported that the terrorists arrived at the village on multiple motorcycles, unleashing a hail of gunfire into the air to intimidate the villagers in broad daylight.

Despite the concerted efforts of security agencies and the Federal Government to combat the menace, gunmen have continued to unleash havoc in Niger State and other regions of the North-West and North-Central. The frequency of abductions for ransom and intercommunal attacks has surged in recent weeks following a temporary lull during the February and March elections for the presidency and governorship positions.

The abduction of the village head and the other victims highlights the persistent security challenges faced by communities in the region, as criminal elements continue to operate with audacity.

Authorities are yet to release any official statements regarding the incident, but local residents are living in fear as they anxiously await news of the abducted individuals and the measures being taken to secure their safe release.