Just five days after the shocking abduction of more than 300 students and staff of St. Mary Secondary and Primary School in Papiri, Niger State has again been hit by another wave of violence. This time, armed bandits stormed farmlands in Unguwan Kawo, Erena Ward of Shiroro Local Government Area and kidnapped 20 farmers including four pregnant women and several children.

The victims were reportedly seized around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26, while they were harvesting rice. According to local sources, the attack occurred barely 500 metres from Erena town where a military camp is located.

A resident who spoke anonymously confirmed that his nephew was among those taken. He described the incident as another devastating blow to a community already traumatised by repeated raids.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said the command was working to verify the report.

The latest attack comes on the heels of the mass kidnapping at St. Mary Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara LGA, where hundreds of students, pupils and staff were taken during a brazen daytime raid. Witnesses said the gunmen invaded the school in large numbers, causing chaos as teachers and children ran for safety. Many victims were forced into waiting vehicles while others were taken away on motorcycles.

The Papiri incident triggered widespread fear and anger, prompting parents and community members to storm the school grounds in search of missing children. In the days that followed, the school authorities confirmed that at least 50 of those abducted had returned.

The Shiroro abduction has deepened concerns over escalating insecurity in Niger State, where communities remain vulnerable to bandit attacks despite the presence of security formations.

Residents fear more coordinated attacks if urgent steps are not taken to secure rural areas and protect vulnerable populations who rely on farming for their livelihood.