Niger attacks: Islamic council, senators demand rescue of abducted residents

Terrorists stormed communities in Niger State, Nigeria, on August 21, 2026, leaving a trail of death and abduction. The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) reported that over 60 worshippers were abducted from a central mosque in Dekara during Friday prayers, with approximately 30 people killed and many others injured.

The NSCIA and the Northern Senators Forum have strongly condemned the assaults on Gbeji, Kpenya, Giyan Gbasu, and Dekara communities. They are demanding the immediate and safe rescue of all abducted residents. The groups also called for a thorough review of the security architecture across Niger State and the North-Central region to prevent future attacks and protect vulnerable populations.

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The NSCIA considers the deliberate invasion of a mosque during Jumu’at prayers and the abduction of worshippers a heinous assault not only on innocent Nigerians but also a grievous attack on the sanctity of worship and the fundamental right of citizens to practise their faith without fear.

Highlighting the severity of the attack, the NSCIA described the invasion of the mosque during Jumu'at prayers as a "heinous assault not only on innocent Nigerians but also a grievous attack on the sanctity of worship." The council emphasized that the targeting of Muslims during prayer underscores the factual error in characterizing the nation's insecurity as solely anti-Christian. This, it argued, hinders collective efforts to combat the widespread problem.

Questioning the effectiveness of ongoing security operations, the NSCIA urged the Federal Government to implement a decisive response. They called for an immediate and comprehensive review of security arrangements, particularly in areas around the Kainji Lake National Park and forest corridors allegedly used by terrorists. The council stressed the need for a permanent, intelligence-driven, and community-centered security system, moving beyond episodic rescue missions. Intensified aerial surveillance, intelligence gathering, early-warning systems, and coordinated ground operations were also recommended, with a call to treat terrorist sanctuaries in forests and difficult terrains as accessible.

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This horrendous savagery against innocent Muslims observing the Jumu’ah prayer also points to the factual error that the insecurity in parts of the country is genocidal against Christians, which would hinder the much-needed collective efforts to tackle the scourge.