Dozens Kidnapped in Attacks on Nigerian Villages and Mosque

Armed men attacked several villages and a mosque in Nigeria's Niger State on Friday, kidnapping dozens of people during prayers. The assaults took place in the Borgu Local Government Area, specifically targeting the village of Kpenya and the Kpenya Mosque. Local residents reported that as many as 60 people were abducted, although police officials stated they could not yet confirm the exact number.

Reports regarding casualties are contradictory. Police spokespeople stated that no lives were lost in the initial attack. However, survivors and a medical source told news agencies that several people were slaughtered during the assault, with one source estimating approximately 40 dead. Another resident reported that a man and his family were killed on Saturday when their vehicle hit a landmine planted by attackers on the road out of Dekara.

Multiple militant groups were linked to the violence. Witnesses identified the Lakurawa, a group linked by researchers to the Islamic State Sahel Province, as the primary attackers. Other residents attributed the attack to Ansaru, a group aligned with al Qaeda. Reports also indicate that a third group, known as Mahmuda, clashed with the attackers, which allowed some of the kidnapped individuals to escape.

The region near the western border with Benin has seen increased activity from armed groups. While jihadist violence has declined since the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency, security forces remain overstretched. The area is also plagued by non ideological gangs known as bandits who engage in kidnapping and raiding.