Communities in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State have released a list containing the names of 547 people they say were abducted during an attack on worshippers and surrounding settlements in the Dekara District.
The community figure sharply contrasts with the number earlier given by the Niger State Government, which said 33 worshippers were abducted from a mosque, alongside 30 others taken from a nearby market, bringing the government’s total to 63.
According to the community document, the 547 individuals were taken from five communities in the district, with their whereabouts still unknown.
Communities provide names
The list, signed by Zubairu Umar, youth president of Dekara District, gives a breakdown of the alleged abductions.
Gbenji recorded the highest number, with 341 people, while 104 were listed from Giagbasso and 88 from Dekara.
Another nine people were listed from Kpenya, while five were reportedly abducted from Gbabara.
The list includes women and children, as well as local leaders and religious figures. Among those named from Dekara are the community’s chief imam, Adamu Attahiru, alongside other community leaders.
Figures remain disputed
The disclosure comes after Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago rejected reports that more than 500 people were abducted, describing such reports as “social media hype” and saying residents should not be misled.
The chairman of Borgu Local Government Area had also previously put the number of abductees at slightly above 60.
The newly released community list therefore presents a significantly different account of the scale of the incident. BusinessDay reported that AFP also reviewed the document and described it as a comprehensive community count containing the 547 names.
Attack occurred during Friday prayers
The abduction reportedly occurred on August 21, when armed men attacked communities in Dekara District during Friday prayers.
The affected communities include Dekara, Kpenya, Giagbasso, Gbenji and Gbabara, an area close to Nigeria’s border with Benin that has faced security challenges involving armed groups and criminal gangs.
Following the attack, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed security agencies to coordinate efforts to rescue those abducted.
The publication of the names has now placed renewed attention on the fate of the alleged victims, with families and residents seeking information about their whereabouts.
While the competing figures have yet to be independently reconciled, the community list provides specific names and locations that could assist authorities in determining the actual scale of the abductions and identifying those still missing.
