Abduction of multiple individuals from a mosque occurred during coordinated assaults on villages in Nigeria’s north-central Niger state, according to law enforcement officials.
The attack struck Kpenya village following similar incidents in the Borgu Local Government Area on Friday, as reported by police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun.
These incidents reflect ongoing tensions in Nigeria, where armed factions frequently operate, targeting communities for hostages or financial gain. The perpetrators of the Friday assaults have not been identified.
Abiodun confirmed no fatalities during the attacks, noting that the military has been dispatched to the region. Local residents reported approximately 60-80 people taken hostage, with rescue operations ongoing Saturday.
Borgu Area council chairman Abdullahi Mohammed Nasir stated at least 60 individuals were abducted, with additional injuries reported among those attempting to flee. He specifically mentioned that detainees were seized while praying at a Juma’at mosque.
Zubairu Umar Talba, a local youth leader, revealed his 85-year-old father among those held. “Roughly 80 people from our area have been taken, and many have left the region,” he informed The Associated Press.
