EXCLUSIVE(SAHARA REPORTERS): Niger Communities Hit by Mass Abduction During Jumu'ah After Rejecting Terr*rist Demands

A significant number of worshippers, among them the 90-year-old father of the Dekara District Head and the Chief Imam of Dekara Central Mosque, were reportedly abducted by terr*rists during a series of coordinated assaults on communities within the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State. SaharaReporters gathered that these incidents took place around 2:00 pm on Friday, August 21, 2026, during the congregational Jumu’ah prayers, as confirmed by local residents and community sources.

The attackers first targeted Gidan-Zana and Kpenya before proceeding to the Kpenya Mosque, where they seized individuals observing their Friday prayers. According to residents, the operations were not confined to these two communities but were part of a broader, synchronized offensive across Dekara District and surrounding villages. Sources further indicated that abductions also occurred in Gidan Zana, Masaka, Sabon Gida, and other nearby settlements. The precise count of those kidn*pped remains uncertain, though earlier reports from community sources suggested that over 300 individuals might have been taken.

One resident conveyed to SaharaReporters that the assailants intentionally targeted worshippers during the Friday prayers. "They launched their attack when people were heading for Jumu’ah prayers. They initially went to Gidan-Zana and Kpenya, then entered the mosque at Kpenya and began taking people," the resident explained. "People were also seized from Gidan Zana, Masaka, Sabon Gida, and other adjacent villages. The attacks happened almost simultaneously, clearly indicating a coordinated effort."

Another community source expressed that the abduction of the Dekara District Head’s elderly father and the Chief Imam has exacerbated fears among residents. "Among those taken is the 90-year-old father of our District Head. The Chief Imam of the Central Mosque in Dekara was also abducted," the source stated. "Imagine a 90-year-old man being taken away. The entire community is traumatised. People are scared because no one knows the whereabouts of the victims."

A third source revealed that this attack followed weeks after the communities had rejected demands allegedly made by the terr*rists. "They had been demanding levies from the communities and intended to impose strict religious regulations on the people," the source recounted. "The people declined to accept those terms. Consequently, there were apprehensions that they would return to punish the communities, and now this has come to pass." The source further noted that the attackers appeared to have meticulously planned their operation. "They didn't just come to one spot. They attacked several communities and locations around the same period. They were aware people would be at the mosques for prayers," the source added.

A distressing video has since emerged showing some of the abducted victims. The footage, seen by SaharaReporters, displays numerous men and women believed to be captives, with the leader of the terr*rist group addressing viewers. The terr*rist leader implored relatives to carefully observe the victims and identify their loved ones. He was quoted saying: “Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To begin with, here are your people, just as you can see them, both the men and the women. Here they are, Insha Allah. Everyone should look carefully to see if they have a relative among them. Whose father is here? Whose mother is here? Whose younger brother is here? Whose child is here? Everyone should look and identify their relatives.”

This video has further intensified the anguish among families who have been desperately searching for their relatives since the attack. The widespread abduction has also reignited concerns regarding the security situation in Borgu LGA, particularly highlighting the susceptibility of rural communities during religious gatherings. Residents are urging the Niger State Government and various security agencies to redouble their efforts to locate the abducted worshippers and ensure their swift release. They also appealed to authorities to bolster security measures in and around communities within Dekara District and neighbouring areas to prevent future occurrences.