The scourge of abduction sweeping through the nation has landed in Niger State once considered one of the most peaceful states in the northern fringes of Nigeria as eight unidentified gunmen on Sunday kidnapped a trader, Alhaji Nuhu Isa, in Lambata village of Gurara Local Government Area of the state.

The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state, Mr Philip Ayuba, disclosed this in Minna on Tuesday.

Ayuba said the gunmen had already used the victim’s cell phone to call his family and demanded N1 million ransom.

He said the kidnappers came with sophisticated weapons shooting indiscriminately in the village before taking the trader away.

He said the command had already swung into action to rescue the trader alive.

“We are collaborating with other security agencies to rescue the trader alive,” the commandant said.