Armed terrorists on Wednesday morning launched an attack on Ibeto, a town in Magama Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting a well-known lawyer, Barrister Isyaku Muhammed Danjuma, along with several other residents.
The assault occurred in broad daylight, coinciding with Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day celebration. Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers arrived in large numbers, carrying heavy and sophisticated weapons.
According to a family source, the assailants specifically targeted influential individuals in the community.
“They came heavily armed, with weapons even more advanced than those carried by security personnel. Their main aim was to capture prominent figures, and that was how Barrister Isyaku was taken. They operated for hours without any intervention from the police or the army,” the source revealed.
Moments before his abduction, Barrister Isyaku had posted on his Facebook page, warning about the bandits’ invasion. His last words read: “Independence Day but bandits are here in Ibeto running riot.” Shortly after, he was seized and taken into the bush.
His associate, Mohd Gbedako Ndatsu, confirmed the incident under the lawyer’s post, urging people to pray for him after learning of his kidnapping.
This latest incident comes just days after another young lawyer, Barrister Onyesom Peace Udoka, was kidnapped along with her sister in Lokoja, Kogi State. They were attacked while returning from her Call to Bar ceremony on September 27, 2025. Both were later released after spending days in captivity.
The rising wave of abductions across Nigeria continues to fuel concerns over insecurity, with many communities left vulnerable during high-profile national events.