Breaking: Another top government official abducted in Niger

Unknown gunmen have abducted the Niger State Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Sani Idris, in the early hours of Monday.

The Secretary to the Government of Niger state, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, confirmed the Commissioner was kidnapped around 1 am at his hometown, Baban Tunga in Tafa local government area.

The Commissioner was abducted by heavily armed men suspected to be bandits from his residence at Baban Tunga, Tafa local government area of the state on Sunday night.

The gunmen said to be numbering about 20, stormed the residence of the Commissioner at about 11; 00am under a heavily downpour and shot sporadically into the air before abducting their victim in front of his second wife.

READ ALSO: Bandits struck, kidnap 5 villagers in Niger State

According to a source close to the family, the commissioner was whisked away under the heavy rain, and abductors are yet to make any contact with the family as at the time of filing this report.

The state Police Command is yet to make any statement to that effect, but a top government official who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity said “that is what we heard but the bandits are yet to contact the family”.

Matane said security operatives were already on the trail of the kidnappers, saying they hope to rescue him unharmed soon.

Details shortly…