President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the military and other security agencies to launch an immediate operation to rescue worshippers reportedly abducted during an attack on a mosque in Niger State.
The attack took place last Friday in Dekara village, in the Borgu area of the state.
Although authorities have yet to establish the exact number of people abducted, residents claim that about 600 women, children and elderly people may have been taken by armed attackers.
A video circulated on social media reportedly showed groups of abducted persons seated in a forested location surrounded by armed men. Children could also reportedly be heard crying in the background.
The footage and the reported number of victims have not been independently verified.
30 People Reportedly Killed
An official from the affected Borgu district said 30 people were killed during the attack and buried on Sunday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said residents from Dakera, Gidan-Zana and Sabon Gida were among those affected.
The incident has triggered renewed concerns over the security situation in communities across north-central Nigeria, where armed criminal groups have increasingly targeted rural settlements.
Tinubu Condemns Attack
President Tinubu condemned the incident and vowed that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
The President directed Nigeria’s security chiefs to provide regular updates on efforts to rescue the abducted victims and account for everyone taken during the attack.
“Terror will not cow Nigeria. We will defend our people, protect our communities and uphold the sanctity of human life,” Tinubu said.
The President’s directive comes as security agencies continue operations against kidnapping, banditry and other forms of violent crime across the country.
Authorities Verify Number of Missing Persons
Abubakar Umar, the traditional head of Dakera community, said at least 2,000 residents fled to neighbouring Benin following the attack.
However, Niger State Commissioner for Information, Obed Nana, said the authorities were still working to verify reports about the number of missing persons.
Nana urged caution in reporting the figures, stressing that the information remained sensitive and was still being assessed.
The latest incident adds to a growing list of mass abductions reported in parts of northern Nigeria, where criminal groups have targeted communities, schools, roads and places of worship.
Security agencies are expected to intensify efforts to locate the abducted residents and bring those responsible for the attack to justice.
