Sunday, February 22, 2026 l Dalena News Desk
RIJAU, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA — A community in Rijau Local Government Area of Niger State was plunged into grief and fear after armed bandits fatally shot a local resident and abducted his wives, later demanding a ₦50 million ransom for their release a stark reminder of the growing insecurity afflicting parts of northern Nigeria.
The incident occurred late Friday night in Dukku town, where suspected bandits reportedly ambushed Abubakar Gari at his residence under cover of darkness. According to multiple eyewitness accounts, the assailants shot Gari dead before forcibly taking his wives to an undisclosed location in the surrounding bushland.
Following the killing, Gari’s body was laid to rest on Saturday, following Islamic funeral practices observed by family and neighbours. However, the anguish deepened shortly after the burial when the kidnappers contacted the bereaved family and demanded ₦50 million — roughly equivalent to several months’ earnings for many rural households in exchange for the women’s freedom.
Officials from the Niger State Police Command acknowledged the report but said they were in the process of verifying details and had yet to provide a formal update. Police spokesperson SP Wasiu Abiodun reportedly said he would confirm the development once enquiries were complete.
Residents of Rijau and neighbouring communities expressed mounting alarm over the attack, which they say is one among an increasing number of bandit assaults in the area. They cited recent attacks on villages in Borgu Local Government Area, where bandits allegedly killed scores of residents, kidnapped others and burnt several homes in separate raids.
The demand of a ₦50 million ransom highlights the growing trend of abductions for profit by criminal gangs operating across Niger State and parts of northwest Nigeria, where families and local governments are often ill-equipped to respond to such violence. Experts say the sums demanded far beyond the means of many rural households are designed to inflict financial ruin while exploiting the anguish of loved ones.
Community leaders and local civil society groups have called for urgent reinforcement of security operations, warning that without sustained intervention and protective measures, rural communities in Niger State will continue to face repeated assaults by organised bandit groups.
As families grapple with fear and uncertainty, the broader implications for regional stability in north-central Nigeria have once again come into sharp focus, underscoring the persistent threat posed by armed groups and the challenges of protecting vulnerable populations.