Gunmen abduct worshippers from Nigeria mosque, police say
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Armed men abducted several worshippers from a mosque in Nigeria's Niger state during Friday prayers, police said on Saturday. Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said no lives were lost and a joint security detachment has been deployed for rescue operations. Local residents told Reuters that more than 60 worshippers were kidnapped in coordinated attacks across four communities in Borgu.
Key Facts
- Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said the attackers stormed Kpenya Mosque in the Dekara district of Borgu local government area at about 2 p.m. (1300 GMT) on Friday.
- Local residents told Reuters that more than 60 worshippers were kidnapped in the attack, which appeared coordinated and occurred simultaneously in Dekara and three other communities in Borgu.
- Abiodun said police could not confirm figures and that no life was lost, while a joint security detachment has been deployed to the area for assessment and rescue operations.
- The attack began after armed men first attacked Gidan-Zana and Kpenya villages before storming the mosque during Friday prayers.
The Attack
Armed men attacked Gidan-Zana and Kpenya villages before storming Kpenya Mosque in the Dekara district of Borgu local government area at about 2 p.m. (1300 GMT) on Friday. The assault occurred during Friday prayers and appeared coordinated, with simultaneous attacks in Dekara and three other communities in Borgu. Local residents told Reuters that more than 60 worshippers were kidnapped, though Reuters could not immediately verify the account independently.
Police Response
Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said in a statement that no life was lost and that a joint security detachment has been deployed to the area for assessment and rescue operations. Abiodun said police could not confirm the number of people abducted. The attack is the latest mass kidnapping in a region plagued by violent gangs known locally as bandits, who frequently raid villages, schools and highways.
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Gunmen abduct worshippers from Nigeria mosque, police say
