Nigeria: Armed group releases video of 600 kidnapped people

An armed group has released a video showing approximately 600 women, children, and elderly individuals who were reportedly kidnapped during an attack on a mosque in Niger State, Nigeria. The footage, shared on Facebook and WhatsApp, depicts large groups of people sitting in a forested area surrounded by armed men.

The mass abduction occurred last Friday in the village of Dekara during Friday prayers. Local residents described the event as simultaneous attacks on several communities. In the video, an armed man speaking Hausa addresses the families of the captives, urging them to identify their relatives among the group.

Kidnappings for ransom have become increasingly common in northwestern and north-central Nigeria, with armed gangs targeting villages, schools, and roads. While violence was previously concentrated in the north, these groups have been moving increasingly toward the south.