Suspected bandits have abducted scores of farmers in separate incidents in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State, with the chairman of the local government putting the number of victims at 47 and saying the abductors are demanding ₦2 million for each victim.

The victims were reportedly abducted while harvesting groundnuts at Tungan Rimi in Ma’undu-Beri Ward of Mariga Local Government Area.

The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday afternoon, with the attackers also taking some men working on nearby farms.

The Chairman of Mariga Local Government Area, Alhaji Aliyu Bagga Muhamadu, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, saying reports reaching him indicated that one of the abducted women had given birth while in captivity.

According to him, the abductors have contacted some relatives and are demanding a ransom of ₦2 million for each of the victims before their release.

The council chairman added that security personnel, alongside local vigilantes, had been mobilised to rescue the victims.

He said the joint security team had engaged the suspected bandits around Alibani village after passing through Kasuwan Garba and Biri, during which a vigilante sustained injuries.