Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Residents of Maburya community in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State have shared heartbreaking accounts of their abduction by bandits, revealing the suffering and difficult moments they faced while in captivity before finally regaining their freedom. The mass abduction occurred on Saturday night, September 12, 2026, when gunmen invaded the community, shooting sporadically into the air, searching homes, and chasing fleeing families into the surrounding forests and riverbanks. By the time the attackers disappeared into the difficult terrain that has repeatedly hindered security response, they had taken more than 100 residents with them.
The victims, many of whom were farmers and labourers, were marched into the forest and held in camps deep within the expansive Kainji Lake National Park and other forest reserves. The proximity of Mariga LGA to these forested areas provides cover for criminal elements, making it difficult for security forces to track and engage them. According to local sources, the bandits later released elderly and pregnant women, including nursing mothers, while others were taken away. By Monday, September 14, 2026, more than 100 residents had regained their freedom, with only three people remaining in the hands of the bandits. The circumstances of the release have not been officially confirmed by the police or other security agencies, and it remains unclear whether any conditions were attached.
One resident, who did not disclose his name, said 100 of the abducted residents were set free by the terrorists on Tuesday morning, leaving only three others whom the bandits had promised to free as well. The release of the majority of the captives brought immense relief to hundreds of families who had feared for the lives of their relatives. However, the joy is not yet complete for the families of the three individuals still in captivity. The bandits' promise to release them is a glimmer of hope, but promises from armed groups are not guarantees.
The ordeal of the Maburya captives is part of a broader pattern of violence that has made Mariga LGA a flashpoint for banditry and mass abductions. In a separate but related incident, bandits beheaded one of the abducted residents, Abdullahi Garba, after his relatives failed to meet their demands. The victim was killed after his relatives could only provide six of the 10 jerry cans of 50 litres of petrol demanded as ransom, and the bandits subsequently increased their demand by requesting additional two cartons of engine oil. When the relatives eventually returned with the items, the bandits did not release the victim. Instead, they handed over his severed head, wrapped in a polythene bag, to the relatives and instructed them to take it to the village head of Shadadi, Ya'u Guskum, threatening to behead more of the abducted residents if the N50 million levy imposed on the communities was not paid.
The attack on Maburya is the latest in a growing wave of mass abductions across Mariga Local Government Area and surrounding communities. In August 2026, troops rescued nine male kidnap victims within Mariga LGA following sustained operations against terrorists. In February 2026, a joint security team rescued at least 10 victims in the area after a gun battle with suspected kidnappers. Despite these efforts, the mass abduction at Maburya demonstrated the continued capacity of the bandits to strike at will, overwhelming local defences and taking over 100 people in a single night.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed that tactical teams of the military and police were deployed to rescue the victims. The spokesman for the command, Wasiu Abiodun, said the attackers invaded Maburya village via Bangi and abducted an unspecified number of victims, later releasing elderly and pregnant women, including nursing mothers, while others were taken away. He said police and military tactical teams had been deployed to the location, and rescue efforts were being intensified. Further developments, he promised, would be made available to the public.
For the people of Maburya, the mass abduction and the subsequent release of the majority of the captives have left deep scars. The community spent days in agony, waiting for news of their loved ones. The release brought relief to hundreds of families, but for the families of the three individuals still in captivity, the ordeal is not over. As efforts continue to secure their release, the people of Maburya and the wider Mariga community are left to grapple with the trauma of the mass abduction and the fear that, unless the security situation improves, the next attack may already be in the planning.
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