A series of coordinated attacks struck villages in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger state in Nigeria’s north-central region, resulting in mass abductions, according to statements from police and local officials Saturday.
The assailants targeted a mosque in Kpenya village where worshippers had gathered, along with multiple other villages in the remote area. Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the incidents occurred Friday but did not specify exact casualty figures. He stated that no deaths were reported in the attacks and indicated that military forces had been deployed to the region to respond to the situation.
Local residents and officials offered varying estimates of the scale of the abductions. Borgu area council chairman Abdullahi Mohammed Nasir reported that at least 60 people were taken, with an undetermined number sustaining gunshot injuries while attempting to flee the gunmen. Some residents estimated the abduction toll at between 60 and 80 individuals. A youth leader in the Dekara area reported that his elderly father was among those kidnapped and noted that pinpointing an exact number remained difficult as many residents had fled the area.
The attacks reflect ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, where multiple armed groups operate across various regions. Such kidnappings for ransom are a recurring occurrence, and the armed factions sometimes engage in competitive violence. As of Saturday, no group had publicly claimed responsibility for the Friday assaults, and search and rescue operations were continuing in the area.
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