Niger Governor Orders Rescue of Worshippers Abducted in Borgu

MINNA, Nigeria — August 23, 2026 — Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has ordered security agencies to step up efforts to rescue worshippers abducted during an attack on communities in Borgu Local Government Area, marking a fresh government response to the security incident first reported on Friday.

The Niger State Government said suspected attackers entered Gidan-Zana and Kpenya communities in Dekara District on Friday, August 21, before storming Kpenya Mosque during Juma'at prayers and abducting an unspecified number of worshippers.

According to a report carrying the Niger State Government's statement, Governor Bago directed relevant authorities to work closely with security agencies to secure the safe return of those abducted and restore normalcy in the affected communities.

The government said a joint security operation had been deployed to the area to assess the situation, track the attackers and support the rescue effort. It added that operational details would not be released because doing so could compromise the ongoing security response.

Exact number of abducted worshippers still unconfirmed

Authorities have not announced a final figure for the number of people abducted.

The Niger State Government said the number of victims was still being verified and urged residents to avoid circulating unconfirmed casualty or abduction figures while security operations continue.

That caution is important because early estimates have varied significantly.

The Associated Press reported that residents and local officials estimated that roughly 60 to 80 people may have been kidnapped during coordinated attacks in the area. Police, however, had not confirmed those figures.