Communities in Niger State have published the names of 547 people they say were abducted during a mass kidnapping in Borgu Local Government Area, sharply contradicting the state government’s reported figure of 33 victims.
The list, released on Thursday, contains the names of individuals allegedly taken during attacks on a mosque in Dikera and surrounding communities, including Kpenya, Giagbasso, Gbenji and Gbebara. A local youth activist, Zubairu Umar, signed the document and described it as a comprehensive record, with the victims’ whereabouts still unknown.
The dispute over the number of abductees has generated protests in the affected area. Residents say hundreds of worshippers were taken during Friday prayers, while authorities have reported a substantially lower figure. Earlier, the Niger State Government said it was still gathering information and had not established the exact number of people abducted.
The mass abduction has renewed concerns about insecurity in Niger State, particularly along areas near Nigeria’s border with Benin, where armed groups and criminal gangs have increased attacks.
President Bola Tinubu ordered security agencies to launch a coordinated operation to rescue the victims, as families continue to await information about their relatives.
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