Shafaqna English– Footage shared by an armed faction suggests that nearly 600 people—mostly women, children, and the elderly—were abducted during a mosque attack in Nigeria’s central-northern state of Niger last week, as confirmed by eyewitness accounts from the area.
Uploaded on Sunday across both Facebook and WhatsApp, the video shows sizeable crowds of people seated in a forest clearing, completely surrounded by gunmen. The distressing sound of weeping children can be heard in the background of the recording.
Kidnapping for ransom on a large scale has become widespread in areas of northwestern and north-central Nigeria, where well-armed criminal groups routinely attack rural communities, educational institutions, and major roadways, detaining victims until substantial payments are made. These armed elements have progressively extended their operations southward, moving beyond the traditional flashpoints in the northern regions.
Source: Reuters