Morganable News / Communities
Families in parts of Niger State are demanding answers as hundreds of residents remain unaccounted for more than a month after a mass abduction.
Lagos —
Residents of Dekara and neighbouring communities in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State have protested over the continued captivity of their relatives and other community members abducted during attacks in August.
The residents staged the protest in New Bussa, calling for urgent action to secure the release of those still believed to be in captivity.
The protest followed attacks on several communities in the area on August 21, when armed men reportedly abducted a large number of residents.
According to community members, women, children and older people were among those taken during the attacks.
Residents now estimate that nearly 700 people remain in captivity. However, the exact number has not been independently confirmed.
As a result, one of the major demands from the affected communities is a proper headcount of those who remain missing.
For families, the uncertainty has made an already difficult situation even harder.
Many relatives still do not know where their loved ones are or whether they are safe. Meanwhile, the prolonged absence of community members has affected normal activities across the area.
Residents Demand Accurate Records
Community representatives want authorities to establish the actual number of people missing from the affected communities.
The demand has become important because different figures have emerged since the attacks.
Earlier reports put the number of abducted residents at more than 500. However, residents now believe the number of people still being held could be close to 700.
Without an accurate record, families may struggle to establish who remains missing and who may have returned.
Therefore, residents want local leaders, families and security agencies to work together to conduct a proper headcount.
Such an exercise could also provide clearer information about the scale of the crisis.
For the affected families, however, the issue is more than numbers.
They want their relatives back home.
The continued uncertainty has also placed emotional and financial pressure on families who are trying to cope with the absence of parents, children, siblings and other relatives.
Some families have had to depend on relatives and neighbours for support while waiting for news.
Insecurity Disrupts Community Life
The impact of the attacks has also spread beyond the families of those abducted.
Residents say insecurity has disrupted access to markets and healthcare services in the affected areas.
This is particularly important for rural communities where people depend heavily on farming, trading and movement between villages.
When residents cannot move freely, farmers may struggle to reach their farms. Traders may also find it difficult to transport goods to markets.
Similarly, people who need medical attention may face additional challenges when insecurity limits movement.
Children and older residents can also become more vulnerable when communities cannot operate normally.
Consequently, the abductions have created a wider community crisis.
Residents are not only asking for the safe return of those in captivity. They also want to regain the freedom to farm, trade, attend school and access essential services without fear.
The disruption can also affect local businesses because fewer people may be willing to travel between communities.
In the long term, prolonged insecurity can make it harder for residents to maintain their livelihoods and keep community activities running normally.
Security Concerns Remain
The latest protest comes amid continuing security concerns in Niger State.
Earlier in September, more than 100 residents were reportedly abducted from Maburya community in Mariga Local Government Area.
Security agencies deployed personnel to the area as efforts continued to rescue the victims and restore safety.
Another incident was also reported in Wako village in New Bussa, where security operatives rescued two people who had been abducted.
The police also reported that three suspected kidnappers were killed during a gun battle with security personnel.
These incidents have increased concerns among residents in rural communities across the state.
For many people, security is directly connected to their everyday lives.
They need to travel to farms, take their children to school, visit healthcare facilities and conduct business.
Therefore, repeated attacks can affect the entire structure of a community, even when only some residents become direct victims.
Mosque Attack Raised Fresh Fear
The August violence also included an attack on a mosque in the Dekara area.
Suspected terrorists reportedly attacked worshippers during Friday prayers on August 21 and abducted several people.
The incident caused fresh concern among residents because the victims were taken while attending a religious gathering.
Women, children and older people were reportedly among those abducted, while some worshippers managed to escape.
Following the incident, security agencies intensified efforts to locate the victims and assess the situation in the affected communities.
However, the continued uncertainty surrounding the missing residents has kept families and community leaders worried.
For residents, the latest protest is therefore another attempt to draw attention to a crisis that has continued long after the initial attacks.
The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of people carrying out ordinary community activities, including worship.
Families Await Their Loved Ones
The protesters are calling for stronger security measures and urgent action to rescue those still in captivity.
They also want authorities to provide accurate information about the missing residents.
For families, clear information can make a difference, especially when they have spent weeks without knowing what has happened to their loved ones.
At the same time, residents want security agencies to protect vulnerable communities from further attacks.
The concerns extend beyond the immediate victims because insecurity can weaken local economies and disrupt access to essential services.
When farmers stop visiting their farms, traders reduce their activities and families avoid travelling, the entire community feels the effect.
Community leaders also need residents to remain connected and support one another while security agencies work to address the situation.
As the situation continues, residents of Borgu and neighbouring communities are hoping for a stronger response that will allow them to return to normal life.
They want to see their relatives come home safely.
They also want to move freely, work without fear and rebuild the confidence that repeated attacks have taken away.
For now, the protest in New Bussa has once again placed the plight of the affected communities in the spotlight.
While residents continue to wait for their loved ones, their message remains clear: they want accurate information, stronger protection and urgent efforts to bring those still in captivity back home.
The affected communities also need the opportunity to rebuild their livelihoods and restore normal activities once safety improves.
Until then, families will continue to wait, while residents hope that the renewed attention will lead to concrete action and the safe return of those still missing.
