Nigeria: Nearly 700 captives according to residents, anger rises near Benin

One month after the attacks on August 21 in Borgu, Nigeria, several hundred people are reportedly still in captivity. Residents estimate that between 600 and nearly 700 individuals, primarily women, children, and the elderly, are held, a figure that authorities have not confirmed.

On Monday, September 21, residents of Dekara and nearby localities gathered at the local administration’s headquarters in New Bussa to demand their release. Groups of youths also blocked the Mokwa-New Bussa road, disrupting traffic, while businesses remained closed despite it being a market day.

The kidnappings date back to August 21. The Niger State police had reported that armed men attacked Gidan-Zana and Kpenya, abducting an undetermined number of worshippers during Friday prayers at a mosque in the Dekara area. A joint security operation was launched.

Bola Tinubu subsequently ordered a rescue operation. A month later, Niger State’s Commissioner for Information, Obed Nuhu, stated that security forces have been mobilized, but no significant progress has been publicly reported regarding the group of captives.

The exact number remains disputed. Authorities have never released a consolidated report, while community leaders now estimate that nearly 700 individuals are detained. At the end of August, the state government already acknowledged its inability to accurately determine how many residents had been taken.

The crisis is also impacting daily life in Borgu. Residents report limiting their movements to markets and health centers due to insecurity. The district is located about 300 km from Minna and borders Nigeria’s western frontier with Benin.