Terrorists have abducted dozens of worshippers from four mosques during last Friday's Juma'at prayer in Dekara, Kpenya, Sabon-Gida and Gidan-Zana communities, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
Residents told Daily Trust that the terrorists, in large numbers, invaded the mosques simultaneously while Jumu'at prayers were ongoing and took control of the worship centres.
According to some sources, the terrorists assembled some of the worshippers and led them out of the mosques into the forest.
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One of the residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent on the telephone that several attacks occurred in Borgu LGA last Friday.
"So many things have happened in Borgu LGA. Terrorists attacked three communities, including Dekara. In Dekara, they went to the central mosque while Jumu'at prayer was ongoing and kidnapped more than 60 people. But they did not injure anybody," the resident said.
In Gbezhin, one of the communities in Dekara District whose Jumu'at mosque was also attacked, residents said no fewer than 100 people were still missing as of Sunday, August 23.
Terrorists claim 500 worshippers abducted
Meanwhile, the terrorists released a video on Sunday evening claiming to have abducted about 500 people, including women and children.
Crying children could be heard in the video as the narrator urged relatives of the victims to identify their loved ones among those being held.
"Your people are with us here, men and women. You may see your relatives among them. Check if your father, mother, younger sibling or child is among them. They are with us," the narrator said.
Displaced residents seek refuge in Benin Republic
Usman Musa, one of the residents, said more than 200 people, including women and children, are currently living as internally displaced persons in the Benin Republic.
"No fewer than 200 of our people from Gbezin have been displaced. They are now taking refuge in Benin Republic up to this moment. We are yet to establish the number of people abducted or killed because some people escaped during the attack and they have not returned," he said.
Another resident of Dekara, who did not want his name published, told Daily Trust that some of the kidnapped worshippers had been killed, but they were yet to ascertain who was still alive and who had been killed by the terrorists.
He said, "After the simultaneous invasion of 4 mosques in Dekara, Sabon-Gida, Gidan-Zana, also known as Gbezhin, Masaka, also known as Kpenya and Gbebera communities, terrorists sent a warning message on Saturday asking the rest of us to vacate our homes within 30 minutes. They said whoever they meet when they return will be slaughtered. I have fled too.
"We have received a message that some of the kidnapped worshipers had been slaughtered, but we don't know the number. But soldiers and vigilantes have launched recovery operations to recover the dead bodies. The operation cannot be easy because all the routes security operatives can follow have IEDs planted there.
"Currently, 230 residents of Gidan-Zana and Sabon-Gida are in Gawungi in Benin Republic. Several others have headed to Kwara State to stay with relatives."
He said one of the injured worshipers who escaped during the attack later died at a hospital in Babanna, where he was receiving treatment.
Ismaila Yahaya, another resident, said among those kidnapped was the 90-year-old village head of Ka'ada, who had just regained his freedom from a recent kidnapping.
The kidnapped Ka'ada village head is also the biological father of the District Head of Dekara.
Yahaya said, "All those who attended the central mosque at Dekara, including people who came from other villages such as Gidan Zana, Masaka, Sabo Gida and some other villages, were taken away.
"The moment the imam said Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakatuh, the bandits surrounded the mosque and went away with the victims, including the village head of Ka'ada, whom they had just released."
He said the latest attack on the worship centre had heightened fear and frustration among residents of the area.
Police confirm attack
Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command has confirmed the attack and abduction of the worshippers on Friday.
The command's spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the incident happened at about 2pm on Friday, August 21, 2026, when the victims were observing Jumu'at prayers.
He said the exact number of those kidnapped was yet to be ascertained.
According to him, the terrorists first attacked Gidan-Zana and Kpenya villages before moving to the mosque, where an unspecified number of worshippers were kidnapped.
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He said no lives were lost, adding that joint security operatives had been deployed to the area for assessment and rescue operations.
Niger govt condemns mosque attack, strengthens security response
The Niger State Government has condemned the attack on Kpenya Mosque in Borgu Local Government Area, where suspected terrorists abducted worshippers during Juma'at prayers.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Obed Nuhu Nana, in a statement on Sunday, said Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago had directed security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the victims and restore normalcy to the affected communities.
According to him, a joint security operation had been launched to track the attackers and facilitate the rescue of the abducted worshippers.
Nana urged residents to avoid spreading unverified reports that could heighten tension or undermine security operations.
He said the government was strengthening collaboration with traditional and community leaders to improve intelligence gathering and early warning systems.
The commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information to security agencies.
