Kathmandu— Dozens of people were kidnapped after armed men attacked a mosque and surrounding villages in central Niger State, Nigeria on Friday afternoon, according to police officials and survivors. The raiders targeted Kpenya Mosque in the Dekara district of Borgu Local Government Area, following attacks on the villages of Gidan-Zana and Kpenya, with reports emerging of clashes between different armed groups and landmines being planted to impede rescue efforts.

Details of the Attacks

Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun confirmed the kidnappings but stated that authorities had not yet received reports of any deaths. A joint security detachment has been deployed to the area to assess the situation and begin rescue operations, though the exact number of those taken hostage remains unconfirmed. Local residents reported over 60 worshippers were kidnapped, a figure that has not been independently verified.

Clashes Between Armed Groups

Jibril Ahmad, a survivor from Dekara, identified the Lakurawa armed group as responsible for the initial assault. He described how the group, numbering in the hundreds and wielding various weapons, attacked after Friday prayers. Another group, Mahmuda, intervened to fight against the Lakurawa, creating an opportunity for some abductees to escape. Federal lawmaker Jafaru Mohammed confirmed that several nearby villages were also targeted.

Continued Violence and Landmines

The violence continued into Saturday, with reports of the armed group returning to seize more people as “bargaining chips” ahead of anticipated troop deployments. Resident Abdullahi Ahmad reported a tragic incident where a fleeing family was killed after their vehicle struck a landmine planted by the attackers near Dekara, leaving the community in fear.

Mass abductions have become a common tactic employed by armed groups in Nigeria, evolving into a multi-million dollar industry across the northwest and central regions of the country.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.