The Niger State Government says terrorists who abducted worshippers during attacks in Borgu Local Government Area six days ago have yet to make contact with the authorities or the victims’ families.

The Commissioner for Information, Obed Nuhu, disclosed this on Thursday while speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

Nuhu said the government had not received any communication from the abductors since the attacks on August 21, which occurred at three locations around the Borgu kingdom.

He said the attacks were suspected to have been carried out by Lakurawa and Boko Haram elements.

“No such contact has happened. We have not had any interactions with them,” the commissioner said.

Nuhu also said the government was still working to establish the exact number of people abducted, warning against relying on unverified figures.

The attacks reportedly began when terrorists invaded the Kpenya Mosque in Gidan-Zana during Juma’at prayers, abducting worshippers, including women, children and elderly people.

Subsequent reports indicated that several other communities in the Dekara area were also attacked, with residents reportedly killed, injured or abducted.

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the Northern Senators Forum said more than 60 worshippers were reportedly abducted from a central mosque in Dekara during Friday prayers.

President Bola Tinubu subsequently ordered a coordinated rescue operation involving the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and other security agencies.

The Presidency reported that more than 40 people were killed across the affected communities, while more than 100 others were abducted. However, the Niger State Government has not independently reconciled those figures.

Meanwhile, security agencies have intensified efforts to locate the victims and track the attackers.

The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has deployed the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7, Victor Olaiya, to coordinate the rescue operation.

The state government said details of the security deployment were being withheld because of the sensitivity of the operation.

The Northern Senators Forum has also called for the immediate and safe release of the abducted worshippers, while urging stronger security deployment across Niger State and the North-Central region.

Families of the victims remain in uncertainty as the search continues, with authorities yet to establish precisely how many people remain in captivity.