Grief Grips Niger State Families as 25 Bodies of Abducted Villagers Found in Bush

Families across several communities in Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State, are mourning after bandits directed them to retrieve the decomposing bodies of 25 relatives who had been held captive for weeks, deepening fears for hundreds of others, including women, children and infants, still missing.

The nightmare began on August 21, when bandits stormed communities in the area and abducted hundreds of residents.

Weeks later, on Monday, the kidnappers reportedly called the affected communities and told them to search the bush themselves for the bodies of their loved ones.

Grieving relatives from Dekara, Kpenya, Sabon-Gida, Gidan-Zana and other communities went out and found no fewer than 25 bodies, which were laid to rest in a mass burial nearby.

A community source told Daily Sun that the victims had been killed and left to decompose before their captors ordered families to come and identify them.

The source said the bandits also warned they would kill remaining captives if ransom demands were not met.

For families still waiting on news of missing relatives, the discovery has brought fresh trauma layered on top of weeks of uncertainty.

A resident of one affected community, speaking on condition of anonymity, described a community consumed by grief and dread over what may come next.

“They asked each family to bring N10 million for each captive. Later, they reduced it to N5 million, but there is no way that we can afford it,” he said, explaining that the ransom demands were far beyond what farming and petty-trading households could ever raise.

He said the recovery of the bodies had only deepened the anguish of families still hoping for their loved ones' safe return.

“We don’t know what will happen to the rest of the people that are still being held,” he said.

Borgu Local Government Chairman, Nasir Mohammed, condemned the killings, calling them a devastating blow to the entire community.

“This is inhumane and wicked. I lack words to describe this horrifying incident. The entire people of Borgu Kingdom are devastated by the killing of these innocent people,” Mohammed said.

The tragedy comes despite assurances from security authorities that they were stepping up rescue efforts.

During a visit to Niger State about two weeks ago, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu said police and other security agencies were working to secure the captives' release.

The force also deployed AIG Victor Olaiya of Zone 7, Abuja, along with tactical personnel, to support operations in the state.

Nearly a month after the mass abduction, many families are still waiting for word on their relatives, and Monday’s grim discovery has only sharpened fears over what awaits those still in captivity.

As of the time of filing, neither the Niger State Police Command nor the state government had commented on the recovery and burial of the 25 bodies.