Amnesty demands rescue of abducted mosque worshippers
Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to urgently secure the release of worshippers abducted during Friday prayers at a mosque in Niger State, warning that mass kidnappings are intensifying across the country’s north.
The call followed an attack on the Kpenya Mosque in Dekara District, Borgu Local Government Area, on Aug. 21. Terrorists stormed the mosque during Juma’at prayers and abducted an unspecified number of worshippers. Amnesty said more than 80 people may have been taken.
“The Nigerian authorities must act urgently to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted worshippers,” the rights group said in a statement Monday.
Rights group warns of wider crisis
Amnesty said the attack underscores the growing threat to rural communities across northern Nigeria, where armed groups have carried out repeated mass abductions.
The organization estimates that at least 1,100 people were abducted between January and April 2026, while cautioning that available figures vary and may substantially underestimate the true scale of the crisis.
Amnesty also warned that survivors of previous mass abductions have reported severe abuses, including torture, starvation, sexual violence and amputation.
Security operation launched
The Niger State government confirmed the mosque attack and said security forces had launched an operation to track the attackers and rescue the abducted worshippers.
Commissioner for Information and Orientation Obed Nana said a joint security operation had been deployed to assess the situation and pursue those responsible.
Officials declined to provide further operational details, saying additional information could jeopardize the rescue effort. Authorities also urged residents not to circulate unverified figures about the number of people abducted.
Attack follows deadly mosque shooting
The Kpenya incident came less than a week after gunmen attacked worshippers in Ungushi, Sokoto State, during Friday prayers.
At least 32 people were killed in that attack, including the mosque’s imam, highlighting the growing security threat facing communities across northwestern Nigeria.
The latest abduction also adds to a series of attacks reported along the Borgu-Kainji corridor, where authorities and security analysts have raised concerns over armed groups operating around Kainji Lake National Park.
Source:AA
