Armed Group Releases Video of About 600 Captives Taken in Niger State Mosque Attack
An armed group has released a video showing what residents say are hundreds of women, children and elderly people abducted during an attack on a mosque in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State, deepening concerns over the country’s worsening mass kidnapping crisis.
The video, posted on Facebook and WhatsApp on Sunday, shows large groups of people seated on the ground in a forested area, surrounded by armed men. Several children can be heard crying in the background throughout the footage. Residents of Dekera village, where the abduction took place, say the video depicts roughly 600 people, mostly women, children and older worshippers, who were seized from the mosque during Friday prayers the previous week.
According to residents, the attackers carried out simultaneous raids on several communities in the area, taking large numbers of people away by force. In the video, an armed man speaking in Hausa addresses the families of those held captive, urging them to identify their relatives among those shown and stating that the recording was released specifically so that family members could see their captured loved ones.
Police had earlier confirmed that an attack on worshippers occurred in the area, but said they were unable to verify the total number of people abducted. Police and state authorities did not respond to requests for comment on Monday. One resident, identified as Jamilu Ibrahim, called on both federal and state authorities to act swiftly to secure the release of the captives, noting that those held include mothers with infant children.
Amnesty International has urged Nigerian authorities to take urgent action to secure the release of the worshippers, warning that mass abductions of this scale represent a growing and severe threat in northern Nigeria. The rights group’s appeal adds to mounting pressure on the federal government, which has faced sustained criticism over what many describe as inadequate security responses to the wave of kidnappings for ransom sweeping across the country’s north.
Mass abductions targeting villages, schools, and travelers on highways have become increasingly common in northwestern and north-central Nigeria in recent years, with heavily armed groups holding victims until large ransoms are paid. Security analysts note that armed gangs behind such attacks have also been expanding their operations further south, beyond their traditional strongholds in the north.
The Dekera mosque attack comes at a politically sensitive time, with Nigeria preparing for presidential elections in January and security expected to feature prominently in the national conversation. President Bola Tinubu has faced growing criticism over the state of security in the country, as the persistent surge in mass kidnappings continues to test public confidence in the government’s ability to protect citizens ahead of the vote.
As of the latest reports, the fate and whereabouts of those abducted from Dekera remain unconfirmed, with families and rights organizations continuing to press for their safe and swift release.
About the Author
