Not less than 10 residents of Rafin Sanyin, a community in Suleja area of Niger State, were abducted by bandits early on Thursday morning, an eyewitness has told FIJ.

Google map shows Rafin Sanyin is just 12 kilometers (approximately 13 minutes drive) away from the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria’s seat of power.

The eyewitness, Ahmad Uthman, stated that his brother and sister were among those abducted during the midnight attack.

“Bandits, not less than 50, came into Rafin Sanyin in Suleja around 1 am on Thursday and took away more than 10 residents of the area in which my senior brother and sister happen to be among them [sic],” Uthman said.

Like Niger, Zamfara, Benue and Kaduna states have become the hotbeds of insecurity, especially abduction of schoolchildren, in the last five months. 

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Although both the federal and state authorities frown against payment of ransoms to regain victims, the abductors often reach out to the families of the abductees on their own, threatening to kill their loved ones if ransoms are not paid.

Uthman, however, told FIJ they are yet to receive calls from the abductors or get updates about any progress regarding the rescue mission from the Police. 

But Wasiu Abiodun, the Niger State police spokesman, said: “Effort is ongoing as the police are patrolling the area to ensure possible arrest of the assailants.

“While the communities are getting large by the day, we are trying our best with little resources and logistics to create police presence in the areas.”

Abiodun further refrained from establishing whether the security outfit has been in communication with the bandits or not but he assured that “a lot is currently being done to ensure the safety of lives and properties”.