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Niger State, Nigeria: Mass abduction reported following mosque attack
A video circulating on social media appears to show hundreds of captives, including women, children, and the elderly, being held by armed men in a forested area of Nigeria's Niger State. Local residents estimate that approximately 600 people were abducted following an attack on a mosque in Dekara village during Friday prayers.
While the authenticity of the video and the exact number of victims have not been independently verified, police confirmed an attack occurred in the region. Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun stated that security forces have been deployed to assess the situation and initiate rescue operations.
In the footage, an armed man speaking Hausa addresses the families of the captives, urging them to identify their relatives among those shown. Security analysts have linked the incident to the Lakurawa group, an organization that was designated as a terrorist group by the Nigerian military in November 2024 and subsequently banned by the Nigerian High Court in January 2025.
Entities
Dekara · Dekara village · Jamilu Ibrahim · Lakurawa · Niger State · Wasiu Abiodun
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Nigerian High Court issued a ban on the Lakurawa group in January 2025. www.stheadline.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Online video footage shows large groups of captives surrounded by armed men in a forested area. www.newsbomb.gr · www.sigmalive.com · businessday.ng · www.stheadline.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The armed group involved is identified by analysts as Lakurawa. www.stheadline.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Nigerian military designated Lakurawa as a terrorist organization in November 2024. www.stheadline.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Approximately 600 women, children, and elderly people were abducted during attacks in Niger State. www.newsbomb.gr · www.sigmalive.com · businessday.ng · www.stheadline.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] An armed man speaking Hausa in the video urged families to identify their relatives among the captives. www.newsbomb.gr · www.sigmalive.com · businessday.ng · www.stheadline.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The abduction occurred following an attack on worshippers at a mosque in Dekara village during Friday prayers. www.newsbomb.gr · www.sigmalive.com · businessday.ng · www.stheadline.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Police confirmed an attack took place in the region but could not verify the exact number of victims. www.newsbomb.gr · www.sigmalive.com · businessday.ng · www.stheadline.com