BY TAIBAT UMMI YAKUBU

At least 14 students of an Islamic school have been kidnapped after armed men attacked them while harvesting maize on a farm in Tungan-Bako village, Pandogari, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State.

The students were reportedly carrying out the farm work on Saturday afternoon when the gunmen suddenly appeared and abducted them, taking them to an unknown destination.

The Niger State Police Command confirmed the incident on Monday, raising fresh concerns over the security of rural communities and the safety of children in areas increasingly exposed to attacks by armed groups.

The police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed that the victims were harvesting maize on a farm belonging to their teacher when the attackers struck.

Although details of how the assailants gained access to the farm and carried out the operation remain unclear, the police confirmed that 14 students were taken during the attack.

The abduction is particularly troubling because the students were not reportedly attending classes or travelling when they were seized. They were carrying out agricultural activities on their teacher's farm when their routine work turned into a frightening encounter with armed men.

The incident has once again drawn attention to the security challenges confronting communities in Rafi Local Government Area, which has remained among the areas affected by attacks and other criminal activities in Niger State.

Rafi and neighbouring communities have faced recurring security threats, with residents in some rural settlements exposed to the activities of armed groups who invade villages, attack residents and abduct people for ransom.

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The latest incident also raises questions about the safety of children and students outside school premises, particularly in communities where farming and other daily activities sometimes expose them to security risks.

Meanwhile, the police spokesperson did not provide further information on the identity of the abductors, their possible motives or the current whereabouts of the kidnapped students.

Details of any rescue operation, arrests or contact with the attackers were also not disclosed in the information made available.

The abduction comes amid continuing concerns over the security of residents in parts of Niger State, where attacks by armed groups have disrupted normal activities, displaced communities and heightened fears among families.

Residents and concerned Nigerians will now be looking towards the security agencies for updates on efforts to locate the abducted students and secure their safe return.