Niger Mosque Attack: Women, Children, Elderly Abducted As Senators Demand Rescue
The Northern Senators Forum has called on the Federal Government to urgently rescue women, children and elderly residents abducted during a terrorist attack on a mosque and nearby communities in Niger State.
The attack reportedly occurred during Jumat prayers at Kpenya Mosque in Dekara District, Borgu Local Government Area, where terrorists stormed the mosque at about 2pm and abducted worshippers.
Residents of nearby communities, including Gidan-Zana and Kpenya, were also reportedly taken away, while some villagers fled into a nearby forest.
The Northern Senators Forum, in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday by its chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, condemned the attack and described the targeting of worshippers and vulnerable rural communities as cowardly.
Yar’Adua said the forum was particularly concerned by reports that the attackers had planted landmines and abducted additional residents to use as bargaining chips.
“This barbaric act has left us deeply shocked and saddened,” he said.
The senator urged the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and other security agencies to intensify rescue operations and secure the immediate and safe release of the victims.
“We, therefore, call on the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and all relevant security agencies to intensify ongoing rescue operations and ensure the immediate and safe release of all those abducted,” Yar’Adua said.
The forum also called for urgent relief and medical assistance for affected residents, while urging the government to deploy more security personnel and strengthen security around Borgu and other border communities in Niger State and the North-Central region.
It said stronger security measures were necessary to prevent a recurrence of the attack and protect vulnerable communities in the region.
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