Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to ensure the safe rescue of worshippers abducted at a mosque during the Muslim Friday prayers in Kpenya, Dekara District, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
The rights organisation said in a statement published on its verified social media handle that an unspecified number of worshippers were abducted during the attack on 21 August, while residents claimed that more than 80 people may have been taken.
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Amnesty urged the Nigerian authorities to act urgently to secure the victims’ release and address the growing wave of abductions targeting rural communities across northern Nigeria.
The organisation said the incident was particularly concerning because the victims were abducted while observing Friday prayers, adding that survivors of previous mass abductions had reported torture, starvation, sexual violence, amputation and being forced to witness or participate in atrocities.
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The Niger State Government confirmed the attack in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Obed Nana, saying suspected terrorists stormed Kpenya Mosque while worshippers were observing Juma’at prayers.
According to the government, the attack occurred at Gidan-Zana and Kpenya communities. Some residents fled into nearby areas, while the attackers abducted an unspecified number of worshippers.
The government said efforts were ongoing to establish the precise number of people abducted.
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Governor Mohammed Bago directed security agencies to intensify efforts to locate and safely rescue the victims.
“A joint security operation has been deployed to assess the situation, track the attackers, and facilitate the rescue of the abducted worshippers,” Mr Nana said.
He said the government would not disclose operational details that could compromise the rescue effort, while urging residents to avoid spreading unverified figures and provide credible information to security agencies.
Amnesty also called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to urgently address the rising incidence of mass abductions in northern Nigeria.
The organisation said at least 1,100 people were abducted between January and April 2026, while acknowledging that estimates vary and may significantly understate the scale of the problem.
Worsening insecurity
The Kpenya attack occurred barely a week after gunmen killed at least 32 people during Friday prayers at a mosque in Ungushi community, Kebbe Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The Imam of the mosque, Malam Aliyu, was also killed.
The incident adds to a series of attacks PREMIUM TIMES has reported in Borgu, particularly around the Kainji Lake National Park and the Niger-Kebbi border corridor.
In January, PREMIUM TIMES reported that at least 35 people were killed and several others, mostly women and children, abducted when gunmen attacked Kasuwan Daji in Borgu.
Following the attack, Governor Bago ordered residents of communities around the Kainji Lake area to evacuate, warning that military operations could be conducted against terrorists operating in the surrounding forests.
In February, PREMIUM TIMES reported that attacks on Feyi, Tungan Makeri and Nkpaso communities over three consecutive days left about 26 people dead and several houses burnt.
ALSO READ: Niger State orders security forces to rescue abducted worshippers in Borgu
In June, suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Pissa, killing an unspecified number of residents, abducting others and setting houses ablaze. The attackers also threatened neighbouring communities, including Kabe and Sukumba.
PREMIUM TIMES also reported in April that a medical doctor, Anthony Enahoro, was abducted by terrorists operating around Kainji National Park in Wawa District, Borgu.
In June, armed bandits were also reported to have entered Zugurma, a community near Kainji Lake National Park, where they held a gathering and delivered a sermon. Residents and security analysts linked the fighters to jihadist groups operating in the Kainji forest, although their identities could not be independently verified.
The repeated attacks have heightened concerns over the vulnerability of rural communities, travellers and worshippers in the Borgu-Kainji corridor.
Amnesty International said the Nigerian government must ensure that civilians are protected and that victims and their families receive effective assistance and remedies.
The organisation also urged authorities to strengthen measures to prevent further attacks and ensure that those responsible for the abductions are held accountable.
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