Tinubu Orders Immediate Rescue Operation After Mass Abduction in Niger State

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant security and intelligence agencies to immediately launch a coordinated operation to rescue victims of the recent mass abduction in Niger State.

The directive follows a deadly series of attacks in communities in Borgu Local Government Area of the state, where armed men reportedly abducted worshippers and other residents during coordinated attacks on Friday, August 21.

President Tinubu, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, expressed outrage over the abduction and reported killing of innocent residents.

The President condemned the attackers as “enemies of peace and enemies of humanity” and vowed that those responsible would not escape justice.

Tinubu also extended his condolences to the families of those reportedly killed in the attacks and assured relatives of the abducted persons that the Federal Government would continue its efforts until the victims are accounted for.

“You are not alone. The entire nation shares your anguish. We will not rest until your sons, daughters, mothers and fathers are brought back safely to you,” the President said.

### Tinubu orders regular updates on rescue operation

The President has directed the Service Chiefs to provide him with regular briefings on the progress of the rescue operation.

The order means the security agencies are expected to maintain sustained operations aimed at locating the abducted victims, tracking the perpetrators and securing the affected communities.

Tinubu also directed that all necessary federal support be provided to the Niger State Government to assist with recovery, relief and security reinforcement.

“Terror will not cow Nigeria,” the President said, reaffirming his administration's determination to protect citizens and communities.

The latest directive comes as security agencies face growing pressure to secure the victims and establish the full scale of the attack.

### What happened in Niger State?

The attacks occurred on Friday in parts of Borgu Local Government Area, including Dekara, Gidan-Zana, Sabon Gida and Kpenya communities.

According to the Niger State Government, suspected terrorists attacked the communities and abducted worshippers during Friday prayers at the Kpenya Mosque.

The state government said preliminary information from security agencies indicated that the attacks were coordinated and that an unspecified number of residents were taken into captivity.

The exact number of abducted persons remains uncertain.

Local residents and community sources have provided varying figures, while authorities have cautioned that the scale of the incident is difficult to establish because of the remote location of the affected communities and the security situation.

The Associated Press reported that residents initially estimated that between 60 and 80 people had been abducted, while other reports circulating online have put the number considerably higher.

Reuters also reported that a video appearing to show hundreds of captives had circulated on social media, but said the exact number of abductees had not been independently confirmed.

### Reports of killings deepen concern

The situation became more serious after local authorities reported that some of those abducted had been killed.

The chairman of Borgu Local Government Area, Mohammed Nasir Abdullahi, told local media that more than 60 people had been abducted during the attacks and that close to 30 had been killed.

However, the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths and the precise number of victims are still being established.

The conflicting figures underline the difficulty of obtaining verified information from the affected communities.

The Niger State Government has also said security agencies were mobilised to respond to the attacks and pursue the perpetrators.

### Security agencies begin response

The latest presidential directive expands the response by bringing the Armed Forces, police, DSS and other intelligence agencies into a coordinated rescue effort.

The operation is expected to focus on locating the abducted victims, identifying the routes used by the attackers and preventing further attacks in the affected communities.

The development comes only weeks after security agencies carried out another major rescue operation in Niger and Kwara states.

On August 5, the Presidency announced the rescue of 308 people abducted in separate attacks in the two states.

Of those rescued, 145 had been abducted in Niger State and were recovered from the Kainji Lake National Park forest in New Bussa Local Government Area.

The operation involved the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, the Armed Forces, DSS and the Nigeria Police Force.

### Fresh concerns over insecurity in Niger

The latest attacks have renewed concerns over the security situation in Niger State, particularly in communities close to forests and major routes used by criminal groups.

The Borgu area has experienced previous attacks, including the discovery of nine bodies along the Wawa-Lumma road earlier in August.

Police said the victims were suspected to have been killed by bandits while travelling along the route.

Security agencies subsequently intensified clearance operations in the area.

The latest mass abduction has nevertheless raised fresh concerns about the ability of criminal groups to operate in remote communities and target residents during religious gatherings.

Amnesty International has also called on the Nigerian authorities to urgently secure the release of worshippers abducted during Friday prayers, describing the incident as particularly alarming.

### Tinubu: Nigeria will not be cowed

President Tinubu said the Federal Government would stand with the people of Niger State and provide whatever support is necessary to restore security.

He also assured the families of those still missing that security agencies would continue working until the abducted citizens are accounted for.

The President's latest directive places the rescue operation at the centre of the Federal Government's response to the attack.

For families of the victims, however, the immediate priority remains the safe return of those still in captivity.

As security agencies intensify their search, authorities are expected to provide further updates on the number of victims, the identities of those killed and the progress of the rescue operation.