More than 100 people were abducted and over 40 killed in coordinated attacks on several villages in Nigeria's Niger State. Police suspect the perpetrators were criminal gangs known as bandits, who have increased their activities in the region.
The attacks highlight the persistent and escalating security crisis in Niger State and north-central Nigeria, where armed groups exploit remote areas and weak security to carry out violent raids and mass abductions, impacting civilian lives and local stability.
More than 100 people have been abducted and over 40 killed in a series of attacks on villages in Nigeria's central Niger State, according to police and residents. The assaults, which reportedly involved gunmen in military-style clothing, targeted communities in the Borgu Local Government Area following Friday prayers.
Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun stated that the attackers are suspected to be bandits, criminal gangs notorious for kidnapping and looting for ransom. Residents described how gunmen entered villages, gathered people, and forced them into nearby forests before proceeding to other communities.
Local lawmaker Jafar Muhammad Shetiman Borgu confirmed the incidents to the BBC, noting that the Borgu area has experienced a rise in activity from armed groups, including suspected jihadists who have imposed religious restrictions. He also expressed concerns that the recent attacks might be an attempt to recruit young people.
These latest abductions are separate from an earlier incident this month where 145 people were rescued after being taken from four villages in Borgu. The ongoing security challenges in Niger State and north-central Nigeria are exacerbated by remote forests and a weak security presence, allowing armed groups to operate with relative impunity. Last week, over 20 people were killed in the same local government area, and in November 2025, over 200 pupils were abducted from a school in Niger State, though they were later released.