Fresh waves of insecurity have gripped Kebbi State after suspected bandits reportedly abducted several farmers in coordinated attacks on farmlands in Wasagu and Dadin Kowa communities of Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area, raising fears over the safety of rural dwellers and the future of agricultural activities in the region.
The attacks, which reportedly occurred on Wednesday and Thursday, saw armed gunmen invade the victims’ farms while they were engaged in their daily activities, forcing many residents into panic and uncertainty.
Security sources said the assailants stormed the farmlands and whisked the farmers away to unknown destinations. As of the time of filing this report, the exact number of those abducted had yet to be officially established, while their condition and whereabouts remained unknown.
A security source familiar with the incidents disclosed that, “Several farmers have reportedly been abducted by bandits in Wasagu and Dadin Kowa areas of Danko-Wasagu LGA, Kebbi State, after gunmen stormed their farms while they were working.”
The source added that the incidents took place on separate days, intensifying concerns over the growing boldness of armed groups operating within the area.
The latest abductions have further heightened anxiety among residents of Danko-Wasagu, a locality that has repeatedly suffered attacks linked to banditry and kidnapping, with farming communities increasingly becoming easy targets for criminal elements.
Residents lamented that persistent attacks on farmers are not only endangering lives but also threatening livelihoods and food production at a critical period of the farming season, warning that continued insecurity could worsen economic hardship across the region.
Community members have consequently renewed calls on security agencies and government authorities to strengthen surveillance and deploy more personnel to vulnerable rural communities in a bid to safeguard farmers and restore confidence in agricultural activities.
According to local accounts, fear now pervades many settlements as families await news of their loved ones, while residents question how long communities will continue to bear the devastating consequences of unchecked violence.
The recurring attacks have once again exposed the fragile security situation in parts of Kebbi State, where bandits have increasingly turned farmlands into hunting grounds, forcing farmers to choose between their means of survival and their personal safety.
As of press time, security authorities in the state had yet to issue an official statement on the reported abductions. Efforts to obtain comments from the spokesperson of the Kebbi State Police Command, Bashir Usman, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to his official line were not responded to.