Bandits Abduct Four Women Including One In Labour During Niger Village Raid

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

KONTAGORA, Nigeria – In a night of unspeakable horror, suspected bandits stormed Maikadauri village in Kontagora Local Government Area of Niger State on Monday, June 8, 2026, abducting four women – including one who was in active labour – and a young girl. The attackers also shot dead a sick patient, wounded a local vigilante member, and brutally assaulted an elderly man and his son, leaving the farming community shattered and traumatized.

Residents told reporters that the gunmen arrived on motorcycles shortly before midnight, firing sporadically to create panic before targeting specific homes. In one of the most distressing episodes, the bandits reportedly broke into a compound where a pregnant woman was experiencing labour pains and dragged her out along with other captives. “She was crying for help, saying the baby was coming, but they forced her into the bush,” a neighbour who asked not to be named said. The other abducted women were identified by family members as housewives and a young bride.

While the abductions were ongoing, the attackers also killed a sick patient who was receiving care at a family compound. The patient, whose identity has been withheld, was shot at close range, according to sources. A local vigilante member who attempted to resist the gunmen sustained a gunshot wound and is currently receiving treatment at a health facility in Kontagora town. His condition is said to be stable.

The bandits also turned their violence on an elderly man and his adult son, beating them mercilessly with machete butts and rifle butts before fleeing. The elderly man sustained a deep cut on his head, while his son suffered bruises and a possible fracture. Both were taken to a primary health centre in a neighbouring village for emergency care.

The Niger State Police Command is yet to issue an official statement on the incident. A spokesperson for the command told this reporter that a report had been received and that a tactical team had been deployed to the area to track the abductors and rescue the victims. As of Tuesday evening, no ransom demand had been communicated to the families.

Maikadauri village is located in Kontagora LGA, a sprawling local government area that shares borders with Zamfara State and has experienced periodic bandit incursions over the past two years. The area is part of the North‑Central zone, where armed gangs have increasingly extended their reach from the North‑West, exploiting vast forest reserves and weak security presence to launch raids.

Residents of Maikadauri spent the night in the bush, too afraid to return to their homes. As dawn broke, many returned to find their compounds ransacked and their loved ones missing. A community leader said the four abducted women and the girl were taken toward the Bangi forest, a known hideout for bandit groups operating along the Niger‑Zamfara border. He appealed to the government to deploy more security personnel and to launch a rescue operation before the captives are moved further into the forest.

The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents in Niger State, which has witnessed a surge in abductions and killings despite repeated military operations. In April 2026, bandits abducted over 50 women and children from Shafa community in Munya LGA, many of whom remain in captivity. In May, gunmen killed seven farmers in their fields in Rafi LGA.

For the families of the Maikadauri victims, the hours are stretching into an agonising wait. The pregnant woman’s husband has not slept since Monday night. “She was due any moment. She was in pain already. I cannot imagine what she is going through in the bush,” he told this reporter, his voice breaking. As the sun sets on Kontagora, the women remain in the hands of bandits, and a community that should be celebrating a new birth is instead praying for a return.

📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com ✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews