Video appears to show 600 people abducted in Nigeria mosque attack, residents say

An armed group has released a video showing what residents say are about 600 women, children and elderly people abducted during an attack on a mosque in Nigeria’s north-central Niger State last week.

The video, posted on Facebook and WhatsApp on Sunday, shows large groups of people sitting in a forested area surrounded by armed men. Children can be heard crying in the background.

Mass kidnappings for ransom have become increasingly common across parts of northwestern and north-central Nigeria, where armed gangs raid villages, schools and highways and demand large sums for the release of captives.

The video emerged two days after gunmen attacked worshippers during Friday prayers at a mosque in Dekara village, with residents saying the attackers also carried out simultaneous raids on nearby communities.

A gunman speaking in Hausa urged families to identify relatives among those shown in the footage.

Reuters could not independently verify when or where the video was recorded. However, it found no older version posted online before August 23, 2026.

Four residents told Reuters they had identified people they knew in the video. One resident said he recognised 13 people from Dekara, while another said residents had identified elders, relatives, women and children who were taken during the mosque attack.

Police and state authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Police had earlier confirmed the attack but said they could not verify the number of people abducted.

Residents have appealed to federal and state authorities to secure the release of the captives, highlighting the presence of mothers with infants and children among those shown in the video.