Worshippers abducted from Niger mosque during prayers

Suspected terrorists abducted an unspecified number of worshippers during Friday prayers from a mosque in Dekara District, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, on August 21, 2026. The attack occurred at approximately 2 p.m., according to the Niger State Police Command.

The police spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the abduction in a statement on August 22. He stated that the assailants first attacked the villages of GidanZana and Kpenya before moving to the mosque where worshippers were gathered for Jumaat prayers. Abiodun noted that the exact number of individuals taken remained unascertained, but initial reports indicated no lives were lost in the incident. Joint security operatives have been deployed to the area for assessment and rescue operations, he added.

Additional reports from local sources and the federal lawmaker representing the area, Jafar Muhammad Shetiman Borgu, indicated the gunmen also targeted nearby Sabon Gida and Masaka communities. The lawmaker stated that attackers used machetes and surrounded the mosque after prayers, leading worshippers into the forest. Some residents sustained injuries during their escape.