Niger Abductions: Army Moves to Locate Missing Residents

The Nigerian Army has commenced efforts to rescue residents abducted by terrorists in Dekara District of Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State. According to an operational report made available to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Sunday, troops were deployed to the area after terrorists attacked the community on Friday and abducted several residents. Dekara is located along the Nigeria-Benin Republic border and lies on the fringes of the Kainji Lake National Park, an area described as difficult to access and reportedly used by terrorists as a movement corridor through the forest. The Army had earlier planned to establish a blocking position in the area ahead of a clearance operation aimed at restricting terrorist movement within the park.

The report said the terrorists attacked the community while troops were moving towards the area, killing some residents before soldiers arrived and took up positions. The terrorists later attacked the deployed troops but were repelled by the soldiers. The Army said it was yet to determine the exact number of people abducted or killed, as some residents reportedly fled into neighbouring Benin Republic before troops arrived. Efforts are ongoing to establish the whereabouts of the missing residents and assess the full extent of the attack. The Army said newly inducted troops were also being prepared for a wider clearance operation in the forest and assured that updates on the rescue efforts and other developments would be communicated as they emerge.

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