At least ten people, including pregnant women, have been abducted from a rice farm in Palaita village in the Shiroro local government area of Niger State. The attack has renewed concerns over the worsening security situation in communities across the state.

According to local sources, the victims were seized on Wednesday while they were working on the farm. The incident adds to a growing list of recent kidnappings that have unsettled residents and authorities.

Abductions Follow Earlier School Kidnapping

The latest assault comes less than a week after a group of staff and students were taken from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Agwara local government area. Reports indicate that only sixty-six of those earlier abducted have regained their freedom under circumstances that remain unclear.

Security analysts say the back-to-back incidents underscore how rural communities remain exposed despite several security operations launched in Niger State over the past few years. Some experts argue that the terrain in Shiroro, which includes vast stretches of farmland and forest areas, has made it easier for armed groups to operate.

Police Confirm Attack

The Niger State Police Command confirmed the Shiroro abduction in a brief statement released late Wednesday. The Command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said officers received a report around 8 p.m. that suspected armed men had kidnapped about ten people from Angwan Kawo and Kuchipa villages within the Shiroro axis.

He added that efforts were underway to rescue the victims, although he did not provide additional details about the operation or possible leads.

Communities Remain On Edge

Residents say fear has returned to many farming settlements, especially as the dry season sets in, a period when rural families typically depend on harvests and increased farm activity. Community leaders in Shiroro have repeatedly appealed for sustained security patrols, saying intermittent deployments have not been effective.

Analysts believe the recurring attacks could further strain agricultural output in Niger State, which is one of Nigeria’s key producers of rice and other staple crops. Some stakeholders warn that farmers may abandon farmlands altogether if the authorities fail to secure the region.

Looking Ahead

Meanwhile, the state government is yet to issue a detailed response to the latest abduction. Advocacy groups are urging Abuja and the Niger State authorities to coordinate long-term security strategies that go beyond reactionary deployments.

The abduction of ten more residents has intensified calls for stronger intelligence gathering and community policing structures, as families in Shiroro wait anxiously for news of their loved ones.