Nigeria: Bandits Abduct 14 Islamic School Pupils, Teacher in Niger, Police Confirm

What the report says

Police in Niger State have confirmed the abduction of 14 pupils from an Islamic school and their teacher in Rafi Local Government Area, in north-central Nigeria. According to the report carried by Premium Times and distributed by AllAfrica, the victims were taken on 31 October while working on a farm in Tungan-Bako village, in the Pandogari district, where they had gone to harvest maize.

The police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, said suspected bandits attacked the area around midday and abducted the students, who were helping their teacher, locally referred to as a Mallam, on the farm. The report says joint security teams have since launched rescue efforts. Earlier accounts from other Nigerian newspapers suggested the number of abducted pupils may have been reported differently before police confirmation.

The case adds to a series of kidnappings and armed attacks in Niger State, especially in rural communities and farming areas. The article notes that the state has seen several major incidents in recent months, including earlier mass abductions of schoolchildren, worshippers and farmers. More broadly, the episode reflects the continuing security challenge posed by armed groups operating in parts of northwestern and central Nigeria, where schools, farms and roads have often been targeted.