Five migrant workers from Jharkhand who were abducted by armed militants in West Africa’s Niger have been released safely after spending nearly eight months in captivity. The release followed continuous efforts by the Jharkhand government, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Indian Embassy and the employer, officials said on Friday.

The workers were identified as Sanjay Mahto, Raju Mahto, Chandrika Mahto, Faljit Mahto and Uttam Mahto. All five are residents of Bagodar in Jharkhand’s Giridih district. They were working with Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited (KPTL) in Niger at the time of the incident.

The Jharkhand State Migrant Control Room (SMCR) confirmed that the workers are safe and are currently in touch with officials. It also said that arrangements are being made to bring them back to Jharkhand after medical examinations and completion of necessary formalities.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren had taken up the matter soon after the abduction. He directed the SMCR to coordinate with the employer, the Protector of Emigrants under the MEA and the Indian Embassy in Niamey to ensure the workers’ safe release and return.

The abduction occurred on April 25, 2025, when armed militants opened fire near a KPTL project site in Niger. The attack took place as Indian and local workers were returning from lunch. When the workers tried to escape in a company vehicle, several of them were intercepted by the attackers, who were moving in groups on motorcycles.

According to survivors, the firing continued for nearly 30 minutes. After the attack, five workers from Jharkhand and one local resident were found missing. Officials later confirmed that the incident was part of a larger militant operation in which several local citizens and foreign workers were taken hostage.

During the period of captivity, the Jharkhand government ensured that the families of the abducted workers received support through the Giridih district administration. The families were covered under multiple social security schemes, including ration cards, Ayushman Bharat health cards, MNREGA job cards, pensions, housing schemes, Ujjwala gas connections, Jal Jeevan Mission tap water connections and e-Shram registration.

The state government also directed the employer to continue depositing salaries into the workers’ bank accounts during their absence.

The kidnapping created panic among other Indian workers at the Niger project site, with several expressing concerns over security and seeking to return to India.