Niger State orders security forces to rescue abducted worshippers in Borgu

The Niger State Government has instructed security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue worshippers abducted during Friday prayers in the Kpenya community, Dekara District of Borgu Local Government Area.

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This directive follows the attack on Gidan-Zana and Kpenya communities on Friday, when suspected terrorists reportedly stormed Kpenya Mosque during Juma’at prayers.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Obed Nana, the state government said initial reports from security agencies indicated that the attackers took an unspecified number of worshippers, while others fled into nearby areas.

The government stated that efforts are ongoing to determine the precise number of those abducted.

According to the statement, Governor Mohammed Bago has directed relevant authorities to work closely with security agencies to secure victims’ release times and restore normalcy in the affected areas.

A joint security operation has been deployed to assess the situation, track the attackers, and facilitate the rescue of the abducted worshippers.

However, the government declined to share operational details, stating such information could compromise ongoing security efforts.

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Residents are also urged to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified casualty figures or accounts that could escalate tensions or hinder rescue operations.

They are encouraged to stay vigilant and provide credible intelligence to security agencies while avoiding unnecessary movement into security-sensitive areas.

Nana condemned the attack, especially the targeting of civilians and a place of worship.

He affirmed that the Bago administration remains committed to protecting lives and property and will continue strengthening cooperation with traditional rulers, community leaders, and security agencies.

He also mentioned that the government is working to enhance intelligence gathering, early-warning mechanisms, and community-based security coordination in vulnerable areas.

Borgu faces continued attacks

The incident in Kpenya comes amid months of escalating violence in the Borgu–Kainji corridor, an area identified by PREMIUM TIMES as a potential hub for extremist activity.

In January, PREMIUM TIMES reported the massacre of villagers in Kasuwan Daji, also in Borgu Local Government Area, where at least 35 people were killed and many others, mostly women and children, abducted.

The attackers, locals say, may be members of the Sadiku-led Boko Haram faction.

Following this attack, Governor Bago ordered residents of communities near the Kainji Lake area to evacuate, warning that continued presence could lead to military operations aimed at removing terrorists from the surrounding forests.

Violence persisted into February, with PREMIUM TIMES reporting attacks on Feyi, Tungan Makeri, and Nkpaso communities over three consecutive days, resulting in about 26 deaths and the burning of homes.

In June, another attack on Pissa was reported, where suspected Boko Haram terrorists killed an unspecified number of residents, abducted others, and set fire to houses. The attackers also threatened nearby communities, including Kabe and Sukumba.

The insecurity has extended beyond rural zones. In April, terrorists operating near Kainji National Park abducted a medical doctor, Anthony Enahoro, in Wawa District, Borgu.

In June, PREMIUM TIMES reported armed jihadists entering Zugurma, a community near Kainji Lake National Park, where they reportedly held a gathering and delivered a sermon. While residents and security analysts linked these fighters to jihadist groups operating in the Kainji forest, their exact identities remain unverified.

An earlier analysis by PREMIUM TIMES described the rising threats, abductions, and violent incidents around the Borgu–Kainji axis as a dangerous escalation, warning that the area could become a new route for extremist violence if not addressed through comprehensive counter-terrorism efforts.

The latest attack on worshippers adds another concern to the security challenges faced by communities in the region, following repeated assaults on villages, schools, travellers, and civilians.

The Niger State Government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting security agencies within its constitutional powers and urged residents to cooperate by providing timely and reliable information.

The government promised to keep the public updated as verified information becomes available and as efforts to recover the abducted worshippers continue.