Update on Bandits mosque attack: Terrorist Kill 30 Worshippers in Niger

By Daniel Ebi, Minna

At least 30 people have been confirmed killed following simultaneous attacks by bandits on four mosques in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State last Friday.

 The assailants, who struck during Juma’at prayers, also abducted dozens of worshipers, leaving the affected communities in mourning and disarray.

Four days after the incident, the scale of the tragedy has become clearer.The attacks targeted communities in Dekara, Kpenya, Sabon-Gida, and Gidan-Zana during  Friday congregational prayers.

According to reports, the gunmen rounded up worshipers at the mosques and marched them into the forest.

Mohammed Nasir Abdullahi, the Chairman of Borgu Local Government Area, confirmed the death toll in a telephone interview, stating that the victims’ bodies have since been recovered and interred according to Islamic rites.

“From the records I have, those kidnapped were a little above 60. Those killed were close to 30,”

 Abdullahi said. “The military has since moved into the area to restore calm, but many residents have fled to safer locations.”

In addition to the loss of life and mass abductions, the attackers reportedly set several houses ablaze, including the residence of the District Head of Dekara, Abubakar Umar.

Local sources indicated that the security situation in the area had been deteriorating prior to Friday’s assault with many residents having already begun relocating to New Bussa,

the local government headquarters, or crossing the border into the Benin Republic, following threats from the terrorists that they would kill anyone who remained in the communities.

Security sources confirmed that a joint operation has been launched to track the attackers and facilitate the rescue of the remaining hostages.

 Residents of the affected communities are now calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of those still in captivity.