Around 600 People — Including Women And Children — Abducted From Nigerian Mosque In Mass Kidnapping

Armed gunmen have abducted around 600 people — most of them women, children and older people — after storming a mosque during Friday prayers in Nigeria's Niger State.

A video posted on social media over the weekend shows large groups of people seated in a forested area, surrounded by armed men. The sound of children crying can be heard in the background.

The Attack

The mass kidnapping took place on Friday in Dekara village, according to The Guardian, when gunmen attacked worshippers during prayers. Residents say the raids were simultaneous across several communities in the area.

In the video, a gunman speaking in Hausa addresses families of the captives directly. "These are all your people. We are showing you this video so that you can identify your family members, your fathers, mothers, children and relatives," he says.

Four residents confirmed they were able to identify relatives and community members in the footage. "The people in the video are from Dekara. I've identified 13 people that I know," Ibrahim Abubakar told reporters.

A Growing Crisis

Mass kidnappings for ransom have become increasingly common in north-western and north-central Nigeria, where heavily armed gangs raid villages, schools and highways, holding victims until large ransoms are paid.

The violence, previously concentrated in Nigeria's north, has been spreading south. Police confirmed an attack on worshippers in the area but said they could not verify the exact number of people abducted.

Another resident, Abdulmutallib Muqaddas Dindi, said those in the video had been seized during prayers. "We have identified our elders, relatives, and some of us have seen their wives and children in the video," he said.

Families Appeal For Help

Residents are now appealing to federal and state authorities to secure the release of the captives.

Jamilu Ibrahim, another local resident, pointed out the number of mothers with infants and young children visible in the footage. Reuters could not independently verify the exact date or location where the video was filmed, though residents confirmed the identities of many captives.

Police and state authorities have not yet responded to requests for comment on the video or the scale of the abductions.

The kidnapping is one of the largest reported in recent months, highlighting the ongoing security crisis facing communities across Nigeria's north-central region.

Sources:

• The Guardian: Video shows hundreds held captive after Nigeria mosque kidnapping