A student in Niger State, northern Nigeria, says 14 members of her family are among hundreds of worshippers abducted during attacks on four communities in Borgu Local Government Area last month.
Muhibbat Abass, a student of Akram’s College of Health Science and Technology, said her father, siblings and other relatives were taken captive when armed men attacked communities during Friday prayers on 21 August.
The attacks were reported in Dekara, Kpenya, Sabon-Gida and Gidan-Zana communities.
Speaking to Daily Trust, Ms Abass said the abduction had left her family devastated and forced her and her younger brother to stop attending school.
“We are being sponsored by our father. He pays our school fees and buys food for us, but since the incident, we have stopped schooling because of the trauma and there is nobody to help us,” she said.
She appealed to the Nigerian government and the Niger State authorities to intensify efforts to rescue those still being held.
The exact number of people abducted remains disputed.
The affected communities have claimed that more than 500 people were taken, with a list released by local residents containing the names of 547 alleged victims. However, Niger State authorities and local officials have previously given significantly lower figures. (Trust Radio)
The controversy intensified after a video circulated showing hundreds of people believed to be among those abducted. Reuters reported that it could not independently verify the number of people shown in the footage. (Investing.com)
Residents have also reported deaths during and after the attacks, while houses and property were destroyed in some of the affected communities. (Trust Radio)
The Nigerian government has ordered security agencies to intensify efforts to locate and rescue the abducted worshippers. Police authorities have also said tactical teams, counter-terrorism units and other security personnel were deployed as part of the rescue operation. (Trust Radio)
For families such as Muhibbat’s, however, the wait continues.
“We are in trauma because we don’t know their condition,” she said, urging the authorities to bring their loved ones home safely.
