Nigeria: Jihadis kidnap dozens during Friday prayers

In recent attacks across several villages in Nigeria’s central Niger State, more than 100 people were abducted, according to police and residents. The assailants, dressed in military-style attire, struck communities in the Borgu Local Government Area following Friday prayers. Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun reported that over 40 victims also perished in the assaults on Dekara, Gidan Zana, Sabon Gida, and Masaka villages.

Authorities believe the attackers are likely bandits, criminal gangs notorious for kidnapping and demanding ransom throughout Nigeria. These incidents are distinct from a previous wave of abductions in the same region earlier this month, when police rescued 145 individuals from four villages in Borgu – Konkoso, Kasuwan-Daji, Tungan-Makeri, and Shafachi.

Altogether, authorities have rescued 308 individuals in a major security operation, including more than 160 abductees from neighboring Kwara State. The ongoing security challenges in Niger State and north central Nigeria are underscored by these attacks, as armed groups exploit remote forests and a weak security presence to conduct raids and kidnappings.

The Borgu area has been associated with the activities of jihadist groups operating in north-western Nigeria and the border region. Local officials warn that recent jihadist fighters have entered communities, imposing religious restrictions. The latest attacks have heightened fears that some gunmen might be attempting to recruit young people.

The security situation in Borgu has been particularly dire, with more than 20 people killed in the local government area last week. In November 2025, gunmen abducted over 200 pupils from a school in Papiri, releasing them about a month later. Despite numerous military and police operations, large parts of Niger State remain inaccessible to security forces, enabling armed groups to operate from forested areas and launch attacks on isolated communities.