5 Jharkhand workers kidnapped in Niger amid armed attack, CM Soren seeks urgent intervention from Jaishankar

Five migrant workers from Jharkhand’s Giridih district have been allegedly kidnapped in Niger, West Africa, after armed assailants attacked their worksite on April 25. The workers — Sanjay Mahato, Chandrika Mahato, Raju Mahato, Faljit Mahato, and Uttam Mahato — were employed with Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited (KPTL) and had moved to Niger last year for work.

The kidnapped workers are residents of Dondlo and Mundro Panchayats under the Bagodar police station limits in Giridih district. Family members stated that a group of bike-borne armed criminals raided the camp where the workers were stationed and abducted six people, including one local employee, at gunpoint. During the attack, a firefight reportedly broke out between the assailants and security forces, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 personnel.

Families reported that all contact with the kidnapped workers was lost after April 25, as their phones became unreachable. Damodar Kumar, the brother of Faljit Mahato, said, "Some bike-borne criminals came on April 25 and took them away. Since then, their phones have been switched off." Sanjay Mahato’s wife said that she last spoke to her husband at 10:00 AM on Friday, April 25, after which his phone was switched off.

Other family members have also appealed to the government to intervene and ensure the safe return of the workers. Following the incident, former Bagodar MLA Vinod Kumar Singh visited the families of the kidnapped workers and assured them that efforts were being made to bring them back. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Narendra Prasad Gupta confirmed that senior officials and the Overseas Cell have been informed about the incident.

Gupta said the administration is coordinating efforts and stands with the families of the affected workers. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has sought intervention from Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. In a post on X, Soren appealed, "Union External Affairs Minister, Honourable @DrSJaishankar Ji is requested to please provide help to our migrant brothers from Jharkhand who have been kidnapped in Niger as per information."