Armed Group Releases Video Showing Hundreds Abducted in Nigerian Mosque Attack
25 August 2026
Armed Group Releases Video Showing Hundreds Abducted in Nigerian Mosque Attack
An armed group has released a video showing a large number of people who were allegedly abducted during an attack on a mosque in Niger State, north-central Nigeria.
The footage, which appeared online on Sunday, shows groups of women, children and older people sitting in a forested area while armed men stand around them. Children can also be heard crying in the background.
Local residents said the people shown in the video were among worshippers taken during Friday prayers on 21 August in Dekera village. Residents estimated that as many as 600 people could have been abducted, although authorities have not confirmed the exact number.
A gunman speaking in Hausa reportedly addressed the families of the captives and urged them to look through the footage to identify their relatives. Several residents said they had already recognised people they knew in the video.
Police and state authorities have not confirmed the total number of victims. Officials said an operation was underway to assess the situation, track the attackers and work toward rescuing the abducted worshippers.
The incident has renewed concerns about mass abductions in northern Nigeria, where armed groups frequently target villages, schools, roads and communities for ransom. The security situation is expected to remain an important issue as Nigeria approaches its next presidential election.
Source: Al Jazeera / Reuters
