Ten people have been killed and approximately 160 villagers abducted from the remote community of Kuchi in Nigeria‘s central Niger state.
Suspected members of the Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram are believed to have carried out the attack, according to local official Aminu Abdulhamid Najume.
Most of those abducted were women and children, with casualties including local hunters who were providing security.
The assailants, armed and riding motorcycles, reportedly spent over two hours in Kuchi, cooking, looting, and preparing tea before departing.
The incident has left the Kurchi community traumatized and awaiting news of the abducted individuals.
Amnesty International has voiced deep concern over the mass abduction, condemning it as another instance of the Nigerian authorities’ failure to protect civilians.
The organization highlighted ongoing attacks and incidents of violence in the Kuchi village since 2021, including instances of rape and extortion.
Amnesty International called for immediate action from Nigerian authorities to halt such kidnappings and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Attacks in Niger state have become alarmingly frequent, although the involvement of the gunmen with jihadist groups, including Boko Haram, remains unclear in some instances.
Last month, several villages in the region were targeted by armed groups for ransom, reflecting a disturbing trend of violence and insecurity in the area.
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