Security Forces Chase Bandits as Top Govt Official is Kidnapped in Niger, Flee to Kaduna

Daina Usman, the council secretary of Munya Local Government Area, and four other people were kidnapped by suspected armed bandits in Sarkin Pawa, Niger State, late at night.

The attack happened at around 10:00 p.m. on February 20 when the attackers stealthily entered Usman’s home, which is close to the riverbed in Sarkin Pawa—an area that is regularly targeted by criminal groups, according to intelligence sources.
Council Secretary Daina Usman, his wife Deborah Daina, Sati Daina, Gambo Shagari, and Sorro (also called Snu) are among the victims.

Zagazola was informed by sources that the kidnappers quickly took the hostages and fled into Kaduna State’s Chikun Local Government Area, which is a well-known escape route for local criminal organizations.
Security officers quickly organized a combined task force that included military forces from the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Sarkin Pawa, Niger State Police Tactical Teams, and local vigilante groups to hunt down the kidnappers after getting a distress call from the locals.

Since then, the security forces have initiated a concerted search and rescue effort to find the attackers and guarantee the victims’ safe return.