Gunmen Abduct 14 Islamic School Pupils, Teacher on Farm in Niger State

Suspected bandits have abducted 14 pupils of an Islamic school and their teacher while they were harvesting maize on a farm in Niger State, the police have confirmed.

The victims were working on their teacher’s farm in Tungan-Bako village, Pandogari district, Rafi Local Government Area, when armed men invaded the community on Saturday, October 31, 2026.

The Niger State Police Command spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Monday. He said the victims were students of an Islamiya school who had gone to help their teacher, locally known as a Mallam, harvest maize.

“On 31/10/2026 at about 12.30pm, suspected bandits invaded Tungan-Bako village via Rafi LGA and abducted some persons working on the farm,” Abiodun said.

He added that the victims were about 14 students who were helping their Mallam with the harvest when the gunmen struck. The police spokesperson said joint security teams had commenced rescue operations to secure their release.

Earlier reports by Daily Trust and PUNCH gave different figures for the number of people abducted. Daily Trust initially reported that at least 12 pupils were taken, while another source put the number at 13, including the younger brother of the school’s proprietor. The police later gave an estimate of about 14 pupils.

A source quoted by Daily Trust said the pupils had reportedly stopped at a borehole to wash and drink water while returning from the farm when the armed men seized them. The source also claimed that the teacher had received information about the approaching attackers and instructed the pupils to return home.

The incident adds to a series of abductions reported in Niger State. In November 2025, gunmen abducted 230 pupils, students and staff members from St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area. The victims were later rescued after spending several weeks in captivity.

Other reported incidents include the alleged abduction of more than 500 worshippers from mosques in Dekara and four other communities on August 21, 2026, and the reported kidnapping of 47 farmers harvesting groundnuts in Tugan-Rimi, Mariga Local Government Area, on September 27.

The latest attack has renewed concerns about the safety of rural communities and farming activities in Niger State. Police said security teams were conducting operations to rescue the abducted pupils and their teacher.