The Village Head of Ka’aba and the 90-year-old father of the District Head of Dekara were among Muslim worshippers abducted by suspected terrorists during Friday congregational prayers in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the attack occurred at a mosque in Kpenya village, Gidan-Zana, under Dekara District, as the worshippers were observing their Friday prayers.
Sources said the attackers targeted elders in the affected communities after accusing them of calling on the government to establish military bases in the area to check the activities of terrorists.
According to the sources, the decision by the elders to seek military intervention allegedly angered the terrorists, who subsequently targeted them during the Friday prayers. Most of those abducted were said to be aged 50 years and above.
The mass abduction was reportedly carried out by suspected members of three terrorist groups-Mamuda, Lakurawa and Boko Haram, which have allegedly been operating in the area for about two years.
It was gathered that a large number of Lakurawa fighters led the attack, surrounding the worshippers towards the end of the prayers before marching them in groups into the Kainji Game Reserve forest, where the terrorists were said to be operating.
The Niger State Police Command confirmed the incident, saying an unspecified number of worshippers were abducted during the attack.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said in a statement that, ‘At about 2pm, suspected terrorists invaded Gidan-Zana, Kpenya village via Dekara District, Borgu, and Kpenya mosque and abducted an unspecified number of persons during Friday prayer.’
He added that the command had commenced efforts to establish the identities and number of those abducted, while security operatives were working to track the attackers and rescue the victims.