Niger Mosque Abductions: Terrorists Execute 30 of 500 Captive Muslim Worshippers

Niger Mosque Abductions: Terrorists Execute 30 of 500 Captive Muslim Worshippers

 

MINNA, NIGERIA – The mass abduction of worshippers from mosques in Niger State has escalated dramatically, with armed terrorists reportedly executing some of the hundreds of captives seized during Friday prayers. The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, travelled to Niger State on Saturday to assess the security situation and ordered reinforced rescue operations.

 

The attacks occurred on Friday, 21 August 2026, at approximately 2pm. Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun confirmed that armed men simultaneously attacked mosques in four communities – Dekara, Kpenya, Sabon-Gida and Gidan-Zana – in the Borgu Local Government Area, while Muslims were observing Friday prayers. Witnesses described scenes of chaos. A Dekara resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the terrorists surrounded the mosque shortly after prayers began. “As soon as the imam said ‘Assalamualaikum’, the bandits surrounded the mosque and took people away.” Local residents estimate that more than 60 people were abducted from Dekara Central Mosque alone. In Gbezhin community, no fewer than 100 people remained unaccounted for as of Sunday evening. The terrorists later released a video claiming to hold approximately 500 captives, including women and children, with the sound of children crying audible in the footage.

 

On Saturday, the terrorists issued a warning to surrounding communities, ordering residents to vacate their homes within 30 minutes and threatening: “We will kill anyone we meet when we return.” Those threats appear to have been carried out. A Dekara resident told Daily Trust: “We received information that some of the abducted worshippers have been killed, but we do not know the exact number. Soldiers and vigilantes have moved to recover the bodies, but all routes accessible to security personnel have been planted with improvised explosive devices.” The Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), through its chairman, Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, confirmed that approximately 30 worshippers who attempted to flee were shot dead by the gunmen. This figure corresponds with reporting by NPO Reports.

 

The continuing violence and execution threats have triggered mass displacement. Resident Usman Musa told journalists that more than 200 residents from Gbezin had fled to neighbouring Benin Republic for safety. Another resident added that approximately 230 residents from Gidan-Zana and Sabon-Gida were taking refuge in Gawungi, inside Benin, while others had fled to Kwara State to stay with relatives.

 

Among those abducted are several prominent community figures. According to Ismaila Yahaya, the 90-year-old village head of Ka’ada was among those taken. He is the biological father of the District Head of Dekara and had only recently been released from a previous kidnapping. The violence in Borgu Emirate has not been confined to the mosque attacks. The Niger State Government confirmed that Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf, the village head of Galla, was killed by armed men at his residence. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago expressed condolences, describing the killing as evidence of the bandits’ “extreme arrogance”.

 

Amid the escalating crisis, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu visited Niger State on Saturday, 29 August, meeting with Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba at the Government House in Minna. He conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims and pledged that “the safe rescue of the kidnapped victims and bringing the perpetrators to justice remains the focus of current operations”. Disu has ordered the deployment of elite reinforcements to Niger State, including counter-terrorism units, tactical squads and the police air wing. Assistant Inspector-General of Police Victor Olaiya of Zone 7 has been dispatched to coordinate rescue efforts. Addressing officers at the Niger State Police Command, the Inspector-General said: “Nigerians are watching to see the police do what is right. I am not here for ceremony, but to bring a strong message of support to officers and soldiers working under difficult conditions.”

 

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) described the attacks as “heinous and barbaric”, calling on the Federal Government to “move beyond sporadic rescue operations” and establish a permanent, intelligence-driven and community-centred security architecture. The Christian Association of Nigeria’s Niger State chapter urged the government to provide adequate security at places of worship nationwide, stressing that “an attack on any place of worship is an attack on the sanctity of worship and a threat to the wider community”. Amnesty International also urged Nigerian authorities to secure the safe release of the abducted worshippers, noting that at least 1,100 people were abducted in the country between January and April 2026, with the actual figure likely to be far higher.

 

As of press time, the Niger State Government said it had not received any contact or demands from the kidnappers. Information Commissioner Obed Nuhu, speaking in a television interview, said the attacks were suspected to have been carried out by Lakurawa and Boko Haram elements, though the exact number of victims remained unverified.

 

Niger Mosque Abductions: Terrorists Execute 30 of 500 Captive Muslim Worshippers