Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has said that 63 persons and not 500 were kidnapped by terrorists when they stormed a Friday Mosque in Dakera.
This was as he said that sadly, three of the 63 victims were killed, stressing that reports circulating in the social media that about 500 people were abducted from the Mosque were totally exaggerated.
Bago, who gave the clarification when his predecessor in office and present Senator representing Niger North, Abubakar Sani Bello, visited him at the Government House to commiserate with the state over recent deaths and security incidents, described the incident as most unfortunate.
The Governor said; “33 worshippers were initially abducted from the mosque, while the bandits seized another 30 people from a market as they fled, bringing the total number of victims to 63.
“So far, three of those kidnapped were killed and 14 were recovered from them. So, we should not be misled by people and the social media.
“It was a social media hype. Thirty-three were kidnapped at the mosque, and on their way, they kidnapped an additional 30 in a market, making a total of 63,” he said.
Bago noted what he described as the “worsening security situation” in parts of Niger State, particularly Niger North, where communities in areas including Borgu have faced abduction incidents.
The Governor however, expressed hope that the security challenges would soon be brought under control.
Earlier, Senator Bello, who said he was the Government House to sympathise with the state over the unfortunate recent insecurity incidents, said he would equally travel to Borgu to commiserate with the emirate over the abduction.
