Gunmen suspected to be bandits have kidnapped 14 Islamic school students and their teacher in Tungan-Bako village, Niger State.
The attack happened on Saturday, October 31, 2026, in the Pandogari area of Rafi Local Government Area.
The students were helping their teacher harvest maize on his farm when the armed men attacked them. According to reports, the attackers ambushed the group as they stopped at a local well to drink water and wash up on their way home.
The Police Command spokesperson in the state, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the kidnapping. He said a joint security team has been sent to the area and a rescue operation is already underway to bring the victims home safely.
This incident shows the growing danger in rural Niger State, where farmers are frequently targeted by bandits. It comes after other recent mass abductions, including 47 farmers in Mariga Local Government Area in September, and over 500 worshippers in August.
