Suspected bandits have released a video showing a large group of people allegedly being held captive in a forested location in Niger State.
The video surfaced two days after gunmen reportedly abducted no fewer than 600 worshippers during Friday prayers at a mosque in Dekera village, Niger State.
The incident has heightened concerns over insecurity in the state as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Residents of Dekera said the attackers carried out simultaneous raids on several communities before taking away a large number of people.
In the video circulating on Facebook and WhatsApp, children could be seen crying as armed men stood around the captives in a forested area.
A gunman speaking in Hausa appeared to address the families of those abducted, urging them to identify their relatives among the captives.
“These are all your people,” the gunman said.
The video has since generated concern among residents and families of the victims, although the identities of the captives and the circumstances surrounding the recording have not been independently verified.
The reported mass abduction adds to growing security concerns in Niger State, particularly as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections.
