Dekara, Niger State, Nigeria — An armed group has released a video appearing to show around 600 women, children, and elderly people whom residents say were abducted during a raid on a mosque in Dekara village, in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State. The footage surfaced on Sunday, two days after gunmen struck worshippers during Friday prayers, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.
What the Video Shows
The video, circulated on Facebook and WhatsApp, shows large groups of people seated in a forest clearing, surrounded by armed men. Children can be heard crying in the background. A gunman speaking Hausa addresses the captives’ relatives directly, saying the footage was released so families could identify loved ones among those held.
Reuters has said it could not independently verify the exact date or location where the video was filmed, though no earlier version of the footage has surfaced elsewhere.
Confirming the Victims
Community members in the area say they have recognized elders, relatives, and other family members in the video. Local police have confirmed that an attack on worshippers took place, but said they are unable to verify the total number of people abducted. Residents also reported that the mosque raid coincided with simultaneous attacks on several nearby communities, suggesting a coordinated operation rather than an isolated incident.
A Wider Pattern of Mass Kidnappings
The Dekara attack fits into a broader and worsening pattern across Nigeria’s north. Armed gangs — often referred to locally as “bandits” — have for years raided villages, schools, and highways in the northwest and north-central regions, holding captives until ransoms are paid. More recently, these groups have expanded their operations further south, beyond their traditional strongholds.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has faced mounting criticism over security shortfalls as mass abductions have become increasingly frequent, with the issue expected to weigh heavily on the political agenda ahead of upcoming elections.
This incident also follows a separate and deadly mosque attack days earlier in Katsina State, where gunmen opened fire on worshippers during dawn prayers and set homes ablaze. That assault left at least 50 people dead and around 60 others abducted, according to local officials, with survivors describing women and girls being dragged away by the attackers.
What Happens Next
As of now, authorities have not confirmed the exact number of people taken in the Dekara mosque attack, and no group has publicly claimed responsibility for negotiating ransom. Families in the area continue to review the video in hopes of locating missing relatives, while security forces face renewed pressure to respond to the escalating wave of mass kidnappings across Nigeria’s north.
This is a developing story. Figures on casualties and abductions are based on accounts from residents and local officials and may be revised as more information becomes available.