Ranchi, April 28: Five migrant workers from India’s eastern state of Jharkhand have been allegedly kidnapped in Niger, West Africa, prompting appeals from their families and a call for intervention from local government officials.
The workers — Sanjay Mahto, Chandrika Mahto, Raju Mahto, Faljit Mahto, and Uttam Mahto — all hail from Dondlo and Mundro Panchayat under Bagodar police station area in Giridih district. They had been employed with Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited (KPTL), an Indian company operating in Niger.
The incident occurred on April 25 when a group of bike-borne armed criminals raided the workers’ camp, abducting six people, including one local employee. The attack led to a clash with security forces, resulting in the deaths of 12 personnel, according to the victims’ families.
“We don’t know anything about their whereabouts. I request the government to intervene and bring them back,” said a family member of one of the kidnapped workers.
Damodar Kumar, brother of abducted worker Faljit Kumar Mahto, said: “Some bike-borne criminals came on April 25 and took them away. Since then, their phones have been switched off.”
The wife of Sanjay Mahto added, “My husband Sanjay Mahto had gone to Niger to work. The last time I received a call from him was at 10 a.m. on Friday, after which his phone was switched off. We have been told by others working with him that he has been kidnapped.”
Following the reports, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren urged India’s Ministry of External Affairs to intervene.
“Union External Affairs Minister, Honourable @Dr S Jaishankar Ji is requested to please provide help to our migrant brothers from Jharkhand who have been kidnapped in Niger as per information,” Soren posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Local authorities, including Sub-Divisional Magistrate Narendra Prasad Gupta and former MLA Vinod Kumar Singh, have met with the families of the abducted workers and assured them of ongoing efforts to secure their release.
“We are also wishing for everyone’s safety and the administration is standing with everyone’s family,” Gupta said.
Niger, particularly its western region near the borders of Mali and Burkina Faso, has seen a surge in extremist violence in recent months, complicating security efforts. Last week, an attack by armed groups killed 12 soldiers, according to the Nigerien army.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
