Bandits Released 14 Abducted Worshippers, Killed 3 – Gov Bago

Niger state Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has disclosed that only 63 were kidnapped from the Dakera Friday’s Mosque Mass abduction, and three of those abducted were killed.

The Governor also disclosed that the government was able to secure the release of 14 of those abducted while insisting that those abducted were not 500.

Bago spoke while receiving the immediate past Governor of the state and Senator representing Niger North, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, at the government house to commiserate with the government and people of Niger state over the death of 37 artisanal miners in NSCDC Custody.

He said it was not true that 500 People were abducted, saying that “it was a social media hype, 33 were kidnapped at the mosque, and on their way, they kidnapped an additional 30 in a market, making a total of 63”.

“So far, three of those kidnapped were killed and 14 recovered from them, so we should not be misled by people and the social media”, he added.

He, however, admitted that the state was facing a lot of challenges, chiefly from various abductions that have taken place in Niger North, specifically Borgu, and prayed that the state would be rid of the challenges soon.

Earlier, the Former Governor and senator representing Niger North said that he was around the state to sympathise with the victims of the deaths and would be going to Borgu to commiserate with the Emirate over the abduction.