Suspected bandits have demanded more than ₦100 million for the release of 15 children abducted while harvesting maize on a farm in Tungan-Bako community, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.
The abducted children have been identified as Hassana Isah, Aliya Ahmad, Hajara Musa, Hauwa’u Abubakar, Halima Yahaya, Asma’u Jamilu, Radiya Salisu, Aminatu Salisu, Aisha Bello, Rahinatu Sani, Aminatu Alhassan, Nafisa Ayuba, Bilkisu Adamu, Salaha Abdullahi and Hajara Salisu.
The teacher of the Islamiya school, Malam Aminu Bako, confirmed the ransom demand, saying the kidnappers contacted village leaders to communicate their terms.
Bako said the children were taken from his farm over the weekend while assisting him with the maize harvest. He expressed concern over their safety, adding that intelligence gathered by local vigilantes suggested they were being held in an isolated building within Niger State, guarded by heavily armed gunmen.
He appealed to the authorities to deploy the military to secure their release, insisting that the vigilantes alone lacked the capacity to confront the abductors.
The teacher also lamented the lack of practical support from the state government since the incident, saying the acting chairman of Rafi Local Government Area and the Divisional Police Officer were the only officials who had visited the community.
According to him, the families of the victims have been left anxious and uncertain about the fate of their children, while he continues to face pressure from parents demanding updates.
Bako said residents needed urgent intervention and reassurance that concrete steps were being taken to bring the children home safely.
Meanwhile, the police have confirmed the abduction. The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said suspected bandits invaded Tungan-Bako village and seized people working on a farm.
The police account indicated that about 14 of the victims were students of an Islamiya school who had accompanied their instructor to harvest maize. The command said joint security operations were ongoing to rescue those abducted.
However, residents maintained that local vigilantes were the only security personnel actively involved in efforts to track the kidnappers.
