Greater than 100 individuals have been kidnapped in assaults on a number of villages in Nigeria’s central Niger State, police and residents have instructed the BBC.
The attackers, who had been reportedly sporting military-style clothes, focused communities within the Borgu Native Authorities Space after Friday prayers.
Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun mentioned greater than 40 individuals had been additionally killed within the assaults on Dekara, Gidan Zana, Sabon Gida and Masaka villages.
He mentioned authorities suspect the attackers had been bandits – prison gangs concerned in kidnapping and looting for ransom throughout elements of Nigeria.
Residents mentioned the gunmen entered Dekara after prayers, gathered individuals and took them into close by forests earlier than shifting on to neighbouring villages.
Native lawmaker Jafar Muhammad Shetiman Borgu confirmed the assaults had taken place to the BBC.
The assaults come as armed teams have elevated their actions within the distant Borgu space, which borders Kebbi and Kwara states in addition to Benin.
These newest assaults are separate from an earlier sequence of abductions in the identical space.
Earlier this month, police mentioned 145 individuals had been rescued after being kidnapped from 4 villages in Borgu – Konkoso, Kasuwan-Daji, Tungan-Makeri and Shafachi.
They had been amongst 308 individuals the authorities mentioned been rescued in a significant safety operation, together with greater than 160 individuals kidnapped in neighbouring Kwara State.
The assaults spotlight the persevering with safety challenges in Niger State and throughout north central Nigeria, the place armed teams have exploited distant forests and weak safety presence to hold out raids and kidnappings.
The Borgu space has additionally been linked to the actions of Jihadist teams working in elements of north-western Nigeria and throughout the border area.
Native officers say Jihadist fighters have in current months entered communities and imposed non secular restrictions.
Shetiman mentioned the newest assaults had raised fears that a few of the gunmen could also be making an attempt to recruit younger individuals.
The safety state of affairs has remained notably severe in Borgu.
Final week, greater than 20 individuals had been killed within the native authorities space, in line with native officers.
In November 2025, gunmen additionally kidnapped greater than 200 pupils from a college in Papiri, in Niger State. The youngsters had been launched a few month later.
Regardless of repeated army and police operations, massive elements of Niger State stay troublesome for safety forces to entry, permitting armed teams to function from forested areas and perform assaults on remoted communities.