Bandits Abduct Worshippers After Friday Prayers in Niger Community

Bandits have reportedly invaded Dekara community in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting an unspecified number of residents shortly after Friday prayers.

The attack occurred between about 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Friday, when the armed men allegedly stormed the community and rounded up residents who had gathered at a mosque for the congregational prayer.

Borgu Local Government Chairman Nasiru Abdullahi confirmed the incident in a telephone interview shortly after the attack.

Abdullahi said Dekara, the largest community in the area, was among those affected, alongside Gidan Zana, Sabon Gida and Masata.

He said the exact number of people abducted remained unclear, as authorities had yet to establish how many residents were taken by the attackers.

The chairman said the local government was working with security agencies to ensure a swift response, rescue the abducted residents and restore security to the affected communities.

A survivor, however, alleged that the attackers were members of the Lakurawa group and claimed that some residents were killed during the assault.

According to the survivor, the attackers arrived in large numbers after the Friday prayers, armed with guns, knives and machetes.

The survivor alleged that the attackers accused residents of not following what they described as the true teachings of Islam.

The claim of killings and the identity of the attackers could not be independently verified.

Niger State Police Command spokesman SP Wasiu Abiodun said he would provide an update on the incident but had not done so as of the time of filing this report.

Dekara is located in Borgu Local Government Area, around the Kainji Lake National Park, while Borgu shares a boundary with Kwara State.

The incident has heightened security concerns in communities around the Kainji Lake axis, with residents awaiting further intervention by security agencies and clarification on the number of people abducted.

Authorities are expected to provide further details as efforts continue to establish the full extent of the attack and the whereabouts of those reportedly taken.