25 Abducted Villagers Found Dead as Niger
Fear has gripped four communities in Niger State over the fate of hundreds of villagers still held captive after the reported recovery of 25 decomposing bodies belonging to victims of a mass abduction last month.
Residents of Dekara, Kpenya, Sabon-Gida and Gidan-Zana in Borgu Local Government Area were reportedly alerted on Monday by the abductors to come and identify and retrieve the bodies.
The victims were said to be among about 500 worshippers abducted after Friday Jumm’at prayers on August 21, 2026.
A source close to the affected communities said 25 bodies were recovered and later given a mass burial in a nearby bush.
The reported killings have heightened anxiety among families whose relatives remain in captivity, with residents saying they are increasingly uncertain about the fate of the remaining abductees.
The source said the abductors allegedly warned that more captives could be killed if their ransom demands were not met.
A resident, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said the affected communities lacked the financial capacity to meet the ransom demands.
“They first asked each family to bring N10 million for each captive, but later reduced it to N5 million. There is no way we can afford it,” he said.
He said the reported killings had left families devastated, while the absence of a successful rescue operation had increased apprehension across the communities.
“We don’t know what will happen to the rest of the people who are still being held,” he said.
The victims reportedly included men, women and children, including infants, underscoring the scale of the abduction and the growing humanitarian concerns in the affected communities.
The development has also raised fresh questions among residents about the progress of efforts to rescue the abductees.
The Inspector-General of Police, Tunde Disu, had visited Niger State and assured residents that the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, were working to secure the release of those abducted.
He had also deployed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Abuja, Victor Olaiya, and a tactical team to support rescue operations in the state.
But with the reported recovery of the 25 bodies, families are now demanding urgent action to prevent further loss of lives and secure the release of those still in captivity.
The Chairman of Borgu Local Government Area, Mallam Nasir Mohammed, described the development as heartbreaking.
“This is inhumane and wicked. I lack words to describe this horrifying incident. The entire people of Borgu Kingdom are devastated by the killing of these innocent people,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Niger State Government nor the police had officially confirmed the reported killing and recovery of the 25 bodies.
The identities of the deceased and the exact circumstances surrounding their deaths could not be independently verified.