Residents of Shiroro Local Government Area in Niger State are reeling after armed terrorists carried out a coordinated late-night raid, abducting at least 20 people, including four pregnant women. The attack, which unfolded in one of the area’s remote farming settlements, marks yet another escalation in a region long battered by banditry, kidnappings and violent extremist activity.

Local sources say the attackers stormed the village around midnight, firing sporadically and forcing residents out of their homes. Families fled into nearby bushes as the gunmen moved from house to house, selecting captives and herding them toward the forest corridor that links Niger State to hideouts stretching across Kaduna, Zamfara and the broader North West.

Community leaders said the abducted include men, women and several young adults, but the capture of four pregnant women has intensified outrage and fear among residents already living under constant threat. Villagers described the assault as “relentless” and “well-planned,” noting that no security response arrived during the attack.

Shiroro, one of the hardest-hit LGAs in Niger State, has suffered repeated violence over the past three years, with communities displaced by bandits and extremist factions aligned with ISWAP. The area’s difficult terrain, proximity to major forests and limited federal security presence have made it a long-running target.

As of Wednesday morning, Niger State authorities and security agencies have not released an official statement. Search efforts by local vigilante groups are reportedly underway, though residents warn the attackers are heavily armed and often operate in large numbers.

The latest kidnapping underscores the widening security vacuum across rural Nigeria, where communities continue to face near-daily assaults with little to no protection. Residents say they fear more attacks unless urgent intervention arrives.

More details developing.