Hundreds Still Missing After Niger State Mass Abduction as HURIWA Demands Answers

Families of hundreds of Nigerians reportedly abducted during a mass attack in Niger State are still waiting for answers, as the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, demands urgent action from the Federal Government.

The reported mass abduction took place on August 22 when armed men attacked communities in Borgu Local Government Area, including Dekera, Gidan-Zana and Sabon Gida.

Residents said hundreds of people were taken during the attacks, with reports putting the number at around 600.

The figure has not been independently verified by the Nigerian authorities. When the attack was first reported, Niger State officials said they were still working to establish the exact number of people abducted.

However, a video that emerged shortly after the attack appeared to show a large group of women, children and older people being held in a forested area by armed men. Residents who viewed the footage identified relatives among those shown. Reuters also reported that residents estimated that about 600 people had been abducted.

The continuing uncertainty has now become a major concern for affected families.

According to reports cited by HURIWA, families had received no communication from the kidnappers for about two weeks, while authorities had not provided detailed public information about the progress of rescue efforts.

HURIWA has called on President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria's security agencies to provide clear and credible information about the operation to locate and rescue the victims.

The organisation said families have a right to know what concrete steps are being taken to bring their relatives home safely.

A Crisis That Has Left Communities Devastated

The attack has reportedly left entire communities struggling to recover.

Residents told Reuters that homes were destroyed and that many people fled the area after the assault.

Some residents reportedly crossed into neighbouring Benin Republic in search of safety, while those who remained faced destroyed homes and a lack of basic necessities.

One of the most distressing accounts involved a woman who had reportedly given birth shortly before the attack.

A relative told Reuters that the woman, her husband and three children, including the newborn baby, were among those abducted. The relative said he had seen her in a video released after the attack but had received no information about her whereabouts since then.

For families affected by the attack, the uncertainty has added another layer of suffering.

They are not only waiting for the return of their relatives but are also trying to determine whether their loved ones are alive, where they are being held and whether negotiations or rescue operations are making progress.

Government Ordered Rescue Operation

Following the attack, President Bola Tinubu directed the military, police, intelligence agencies and other security organisations to launch an immediate and coordinated operation to rescue the abducted people.

The Federal Government said security agencies had been mobilised to locate the victims and bring them home safely.

Niger State authorities also said a joint security operation had been launched in the affected communities.

However, officials have previously warned that details of the operation could not be publicly disclosed because of its sensitive nature.

Niger State police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun said authorities would provide information when they had confirmed developments.

That lack of publicly available information is now at the centre of HURIWA's criticism.

The organisation argues that while operational details may need to remain confidential, affected families should still receive meaningful updates about efforts to secure the release of their relatives.

HURIWA also wants the government to investigate how armed groups were able to carry out such a large-scale operation and escape with hundreds of people.

What Happens Next?

The immediate priority remains locating the abducted Nigerians and securing their safe return.

Security agencies have been conducting operations in the area, but the difficult terrain and logistical challenges have complicated efforts to reach some of the affected communities.

The attack has also renewed concerns about insecurity in northern and north-central Nigeria, where mass kidnappings have increasingly placed pressure on communities, schools, places of worship and local economies.

For the families waiting for their relatives, however, the broader security debate is secondary.

They want information.

They want their loved ones found.

And they want the government to demonstrate that the people taken from their communities have not been forgotten.

HURIWA is now calling for regular communication between the government, security agencies and affected families, alongside intensified efforts to locate the victims.

Until authorities establish exactly how many people were abducted and provide verified information about their whereabouts, the fate of hundreds of families remains uncertain.

Key Facts

Reported attack date: August 22, 2026

Location: Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State

Affected communities: Dekera, Gidan-Zana and Sabon Gida

Reported number of abductees: About 600, according to residents and reports

Officially confirmed number: Authorities have not publicly confirmed the 600 figure

HURIWA's demand: Urgent government action and clear information about rescue efforts

President's response: Security agencies were ordered to launch a coordinated rescue operation

Current concern: Families reportedly remain without clear information about the whereabouts of their relatives

Important clarification: The reported figure of about 600 abductees has not been independently confirmed by Nigerian authorities.

Sources

Reuters

Leadership

Nigerian Tribune

Channels Television

TheCable