More than 60 Muslim worshippers were reportedly abducted by armed men during Friday prayers in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The suspected terrorists attacked communities including Gidan-Zana and Kpenya before storming a mosque in Kpenya village, Dekara District.
According to residents, the attackers surrounded the mosque and took away some of worshippers, with estimates putting the number of victims between 60 and 80. The chairman of Borgu Local Government Area, Abdullahi Mohammed Nasir, also said at least 60 people were abducted, while some people reportedly sustained gunshot injuries while trying to escape.
However, the Niger State Police Command said the exact number of abducted persons had yet to be established. He said no death had been recorded and that a joint security team had been deployed to the area to assess the situation and carry out rescue operations.
The incident has renewed concerns over insecurity in Niger State, particularly in remote communities where armed groups have continued to carry out attacks.