5 from Jharkhand abducted by armed men in West Africa’s Niger

In Giridih district, Jharkhand, the families of five migrant workers abducted in Niger are grappling with uncertainty and anguish. The workers, identified as Sanjay Mahato, Faljit Mahato, Raju Mahato, Chandrika Mahato, and Uttam Mahato, were employed by Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited when they were kidnapped on April 25, 2025. According to reports, armed assailants on motorcycles attacked a company site, overpowering security personnel before abducting the workers and fleeing into the bush. The attackers also killed 12 local security personnel and kidnapped a Nigerian driver, who was later released.

The families, residing in remote villages like Telaiya, Pindaria, and Barmasia, have had no contact with the abducted workers since their phones went silent after the incident. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has appealed to India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for assistance in securing the workers’ release. The Ministry of External Affairs, through spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, confirmed that the Indian embassy in Niger is actively engaging with local authorities to ensure the workers’ safe return. Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited has also pledged support to the affected families.

For relatives like Shivnath Mahato, whose brother Sanjay is among the abducted, the wait is agonizing. Many of these families, dependent on the workers’ remittances, are struggling financially and emotionally. The Indian Express reported that some relatives have sought help from local leaders, while others, like Raju Mahato’s wife, are barely managing to cope, relying on neighbors for support. The lack of updates has left the families in a state of despair, with no clarity on when or if their loved ones will return home.