Niger State Mass Kidnapping: Nearly 700 Feared Still in Captivity

Residents of communities in Niger State’s Borgu district have protested over the continued captivity of hundreds of people abducted during a mass kidnapping more than a month ago.

Residents estimate that close to 700 people remain in the hands of kidnappers following coordinated attacks on August 21, but the figure has not been independently verified and Nigerian authorities have not publicly confirmed the number of people still being held.

The protesters, from Dekara and neighbouring communities, gathered at the local government headquarters in New Bussa on Monday, September 21, demanding the release of their relatives and other residents believed to have been abducted.

Residents demand rescue operation

The August 21 attacks affected several communities in the Borgu area, with residents initially reporting that about 600 people had been abducted.

Most of those reported missing were women, children and elderly people, according to residents cited by Reuters. The affected communities are located in north-central Nigeria, close to the country’s border with the Republic of Benin.

The latest estimate of nearly 700 people in captivity came from Abdullahi Yahaya Sadauki, president of the Borgu Youths Development Association.

Sadauki said a headcount should be conducted in the affected villages to establish how many people were actually abducted and how many remain missing. Reuters said it could not independently verify the estimate.

The absence of a confirmed figure has added to uncertainty for families trying to establish the whereabouts of relatives who disappeared during the attacks.

Government says security agencies have been mobilised

President Bola Tinubu ordered an immediate rescue operation after the August attacks.

More than a month later, however, residents say the abducted people have not been found, prompting renewed protests and demands for more information about the rescue effort.

Niger State Commissioner for Information Obed Nuhu Nana told Reuters that security agencies had been mobilised and that the government was making efforts to rescue the victims.

The commissioner did not provide a confirmed number of people still in captivity or details of a successful rescue operation.

The lack of publicly confirmed figures has made it difficult to establish the precise scale of the continuing hostage situation.

Insecurity disrupts daily life

Residents say the kidnapping has affected more than the families of those who were taken.

Abdulmutallib Dindey, a member of the Borgu youths’ association who participated in the protest, said insecurity had restricted residents’ access to markets and healthcare.

Businesses were also affected during Monday’s protest. Hanifa Konkoso, a 26-year-old resident, said shops in Borgu were closed despite it being a market day as residents observed a shutdown to press their demands.

The disruption illustrates the wider impact of prolonged insecurity on communities where residents depend on movement between villages and local markets for trade, food and other essential services.

A wider pattern of mass abductions in Niger State

The Borgu kidnapping is part of a wider series of mass abductions reported in Niger State in recent months.

In August, Reuters reported that a video appeared to show about 600 women, children and elderly people who residents said had been abducted during an attack on Dekara village. The abductions occurred during Friday prayers as armed men attacked several communities in the area.

The police had acknowledged an attack in the area at the time but had not provided details confirming the number of people abducted.

The state also recorded another major kidnapping in September. Police said tactical teams involving the military and police were deployed after more than 100 residents were abducted from Maburya community in Mariga Local Government Area. PUNCH reported that more than 500 people abducted from Borgu in August were still being held at the time of that September attack.

The succession of attacks has increased concerns about the ability of affected communities to move safely, conduct business and access essential services.

Families await confirmation

For families in the affected communities, establishing an accurate list of those abducted remains an immediate concern.

The estimate of nearly 700 captives has come from community representatives rather than a confirmed government count. Until authorities or an independently conducted headcount establish the number, the precise number of people still in captivity remains uncertain.

A verified headcount could also help authorities identify missing people, coordinate rescue efforts and provide families with clearer information about their relatives.

Residents are continuing to call for the government and security agencies to intensify efforts to locate the captives and restore security in the affected communities.

For now, more than a month after the August 21 attacks, the central question for families remains unresolved: how many people are still missing, where are they being held, and when will they return home?