Trapped in Terror: The Untold Ordeal of 5 Indian Hostages in Niger
Ninety days have passed since five Indian nationals were taken hostage by jihadists in Niger. On April 25, 2025, armed assailants struck in western Niger, resulting in the abduction of these individuals and the deaths of several soldiers, as reported by local security officials and Indian government statements accessed by Reuters. The victims were employed by an Indian firm involved in the Kandadji dam project in Niger, according to two security sources.
The Jharkhand state government in India confirmed that the five men were working in the Tillaberi region. They are identified as Sanjay, Faljit, Raju, Chandrika, and Uttam Mahto, all hailing from Dondlo and Mundro villages in Giridih district of Jharkhand. They traveled to Niger to contribute to a power transmission project associated with the Kandadji Dam.
Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, has faced calls for intervention from Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Sorren and the families of the abducted individuals; however, he has not responded to these pleas.
In a related incident on July 15, 2025, two Indian nationals were killed while one was abducted during an assault at a construction site, where unidentified gunmen engaged in a firefight with soldiers present. The abducted individual has been named as Ranjeet Singh.
While the identities of the kidnappers remain unconfirmed, Niger has previously implicated the EIGS group, an affiliate of the Islamic State, in a deadly attack on a mosque that left at least 44 civilians dead last month near the tri-border area.
A reliable source, who chose to remain anonymous, informed OurNigeria News that the five kidnapped Indians are alive and their captors have contacted a Nigerian crisis negotiator to reassure their families of their safety while also presenting a demand for a prisoner exchange with the government led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani. The captors have warned that failure to meet their demands will result in dire consequences for the hostages.
Sources within the Nigerien security apparatus indicated that the junta is unlikely to agree to any prisoner swap involving jihadists currently in custody, citing national security concerns. “I can confidently state that our government will not entertain such a perilous exchange,” said one source. “We are exploring various options behind the scenes to secure their release, but trading prisoners is not an option.”
The trend of kidnappings is escalating alarmingly, with Indian nationals increasingly becoming prime targets. Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso are grappling with a jihadist insurgency linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, which originated from a Tuareg rebellion in northern Mali back in 2012 and has since spread to neighboring regions. This year has seen a rise in abductions; earlier incidents include an Austrian woman taken in January and a Swiss citizen abducted in April, both occurring in Niger. Additionally, four Moroccan truck drivers vanished along the border between Niger and Burkina Faso in January.
