By Ukumbi Afrika 
Maiduguri – A video circulating on Facebook and WhatsApp appears to show what residents say are about 600 women, children and elderly people abducted during an attack on a mosque in Nigeria's north-central Niger State.
The footage, posted on Sunday, shows large groups of people sitting in a forested area surrounded by armed men. Children can be heard crying in the background.
Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. Police and state authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The footage emerged two days after gunmen attacked worshipper during Friday prayers at a mosque in Dekara village, with residents saying the assailants also carried out simultaneous raids on nearby communities.
Police had confirmed an attack on worshippers but said they could not establish how many people had been abducted.
In the video, an armed man speaking in Hausa addresses relatives of the captives, urging them to identify family members among those shown.
“These are all your people, ” the gunman says, according to Reuters.
Resident Jamilu Ibrahim appealed to federal and state authorities to intervene, highlighting the presence of mothers with infants and children among those shown in the footage.
Mass kidnappings for ransom have become increasingly common across parts of northwestern and north-central Nigeria, where heavily armed criminal groups frequently target villages, schools and major roads.
The reported abduction highlights continuing security challenges facing communities in Nigeria’s north, where large-scale kidnappings have placed additional pressure on authorities to strengthen protection for civilians.
Source: Reuters
Reporting: Ahmed Kingimi
Writing: Ben Ezeamalu
Editing: Kate Mayberry