Dozens of people abducted in attacks on villages in Nigeria, police say
The attacks are the latest in a wider series of kidnappings and assaults by armed groups in Nigeria.
Police and local residents have informed the BBC that over 100 individuals were abducted in a series of assaults on several villages within Nigeria's central Niger State.
The assailants, reportedly dressed in military-style attire, targeted communities in the Borgu Local Government Area following Friday prayers.
According to police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun, more than 40 people also lost their lives in the attacks on the villages of Dekara, Gidan Zana, Sabon Gida, and Masaka. Abiodun stated that authorities suspect the perpetrators are bandits—criminal organizations known for kidnapping and extorting ransoms across various regions of Nigeria.
Residents recounted that the gunmen entered Dekara after prayers, rounded up people, and led them into nearby forests before proceeding to neighboring villages. Local lawmaker Jafar Muhammad Shetiman Borgu confirmed the incidents to the BBC.
These attacks coincide with an escalation of armed group activities in the remote Borgu area, which shares borders with Kebbi and Kwara states, as well as Benin.
These recent abductions are distinct from an earlier wave of kidnappings in the same vicinity. Earlier this month, police reported the rescue of 145 individuals who had been abducted from four Borgu villages: Konkoso, Kasuwan-Daji, Tungan-Makeri, and Shafachi. These individuals were among 308 people authorities stated were rescued in a significant security operation, which also included over 160 people abducted in neighboring Kwara State.
The attacks underscore the persistent security challenges in Niger State and throughout north-central Nigeria, where armed groups have exploited remote forests and a limited security presence to conduct raids and kidnappings. The Borgu area has also been linked to the operations of Jihadist groups active in parts of north-western Nigeria and the cross-border region.
Local officials indicate that Jihadist fighters have, in recent months, entered communities and imposed religious restrictions. Shetiman expressed concerns that the latest attacks might indicate an attempt by some of the gunmen to recruit young people.
The security situation in Borgu has remained particularly severe. Last week, local officials reported that more than 20 people were killed in the local government area. In November 2025, gunmen also abducted over 200 pupils from a school in Papiri, Niger State; the children were released approximately a month later.
Despite repeated military and police operations, significant portions of Niger State remain inaccessible to security forces, enabling armed groups to operate from forested areas and launch attacks on isolated communities.