Kidnappers release video showing hundreds abducted from Nigerian mosque

Gunmen have released a video showing hundreds of people abducted from a mosque in Dekera village, Niger state, Nigeria. The kidnapping occurred during Friday prayers, with residents confirming the identities of some hostages in the footage. This mass abduction highlights Nigeria's ongoing security crisis in the north, particularly as the country approaches presidential elections. The video, circulating on social media, features a gunman speaking in Hausa to the captives' families. While news agencies could not independently verify the video's exact date or location, it has not appeared online before Sunday. Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to secure the release of the worshippers.

An armed group has released a video showing approximately 600 women, children, and older people abducted from Dekara village in Nigeria's Niger State last week. The footage, shared on social media, depicts large groups of captives in a forested area surrounded by armed men, with children heard crying. Residents identified individuals from their community among those shown, confirming they were taken during Friday prayers. This incident follows a pattern of mass kidnappings for ransom common in northwestern and north-central Nigeria, with gangs increasingly moving south. The gunmen in the video urged families to identify their relatives and pay for their release. Police had previously confirmed an attack but could not verify the number of abductees.