Terrorists have abducted scores of worshippers, including the 90-year-old father of the District Head of Dekara and the Chief Imam of Dekara Central Mosque, during coordinated attacks on communities in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, SaharaReporters has learnt.
The attacks occurred around 2:00pm on Friday, August 21, 2026, during Jumu’ah prayers, according to residents and community sources who spoke with SaharaReporters.
The terrorists first attacked Gidan-Zana and Kpenya before storming Kpenya Mosque, where they abducted worshippers gathered for Friday prayers.
Residents said the attacks were not limited to the two communities, but were coordinated across Dekara District and neighbouring villages.
According to the sources, people were also abducted from Gidan Zana, Masaka, Sabon Gida and other surrounding communities.
The exact number of people abducted remains unclear, although earlier reports by community sources indicated that more than 300 people may have been taken by the attackers.
A resident told SaharaReporters that the attackers deliberately targeted worshippers during Friday prayers.
“They attacked when people were going for Jumu’ah prayers. They first went to Gidan-Zana and Kpenya, and then they entered the mosque at Kpenya and started taking people away,” the resident said.
“People were also taken from Gidan Zana, Masaka, Sabon Gida and other nearby villages. The attacks happened almost at the same time, so it was clearly coordinated.”
Another community source said the abduction of the elderly father of the District Head of Dekara and the Chief Imam has deepened fears among residents.
“Among those taken is the 90-year-old father of our District Head. The Chief Imam of the Central Mosque in Dekara was also abducted,” the source said.
“Imagine a 90-year-old man being taken away. The whole community is traumatised. People are afraid because nobody knows where the victims have been taken.”
A third source said the attack came after residents had rejected demands allegedly made by the terrorists weeks earlier.
“They had been demanding levies from the communities and wanted to impose strict religious rules on the people,” the source said.
“The people refused to accept those conditions. Following that, there were fears that they would come back to punish the communities, and now this has happened.”
The source added that the attackers appeared to have planned the operation carefully.
“They did not just come to one place. They attacked several communities and locations around the same period. They knew people would be at the mosques for prayers,” the source said.
A heartbreaking video showing some of the kidnapped victims has also emerged following the attack.
In the footage seen by SaharaReporters, scores of men and women believed to have been abducted are shown together while the leader of the terrorist group addresses viewers.
The terrorist leader urged relatives to carefully examine the victims and identify their loved ones.
“Praise be to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To begin with, here are your people, just as you can see them, both the men and the women. Here they are, Insha Allah,” he said.
“Everyone should look carefully to see if they have a relative among them. Whose father is here? Whose mother is here? Whose younger brother is here? Whose child is here? Everyone should look and identify their relatives.
The video has further heightened anxiety among families who have been desperately searching for their relatives since the attack.
The mass abduction has also raised fresh concerns about the security situation in Borgu LGA, particularly the vulnerability of rural communities during religious gatherings.
Residents are appealing to the Niger State Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to locate the abducted worshippers and secure their immediate release.
They also urged authorities to strengthen security around communities in Dekara District and neighbouring areas to prevent further attacks.
(SaharaReporters)
