Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the country’s security and intelligence agencies to launch an immediate and coordinated rescue operation after gunmen abducted scores of people during attacks on communities in north-central Niger State.
The directive came as concerns mounted over the fate of the abductees following the emergence of a video appearing to show hundreds of captives seated in a forested area and surrounded by armed men.
According to reports, the attack took place last week in the Borgu district of Niger State, where gunmen reportedly targeted several communities, including Dakera, Gidan-Zana and Sabon Gida.
The scale of the reported kidnapping has created uncertainty for authorities attempting to establish how many people are missing.
The uncertainty has been compounded by the displacement of residents from affected communities. Abubakar Umar, the traditional head of Dakera, revealed that at least 2,000 people had fled across the border into neighbouring Benin Republic following the attack.
The reported deaths, alongside the mass abduction, have transformed the incident from a kidnapping crisis into a wider humanitarian and security emergency for communities already exposed to repeated attacks by armed groups.
In response, President Tinubu directed the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and other relevant security and intelligence agencies to immediately begin a coordinated operation to locate and rescue those abducted.
The President also ordered the Service Chiefs to provide him with regular briefings on the progress of the operation until all those taken captive are accounted for.
“Those who carried out this cowardly attack on defenceless Nigerians are enemies of peace and enemies of humanity, who will not go scot-free.”
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
He expressed condolences to families who lost relatives during the assault and sought to reassure those whose loved ones remain missing.
“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. Terror will not cow Nigeria. We will defend our people, protect our communities, and uphold the sanctity of human life.”
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Tinubu also pledged federal support for the Niger State Government as authorities seek to stabilise the affected communities and reinforce security.
Mass Kidnapping Highlights Nigeria’s Persistent Security Challenge
The latest crisis has once again brought Nigeria’s long-running kidnapping problem into sharp focus, particularly in the country’s northwestern and north-central regions, where armed criminal gangs have increasingly targeted rural communities, schools, roads and places of worship.
For years, kidnapping for ransom has remained a major security threat in parts of Nigeria. Armed groups have exploited difficult terrain, limited security presence and the vulnerability of isolated communities to carry out raids and disappear into forests with their captives.
The latest attack demonstrates how such groups can inflict enormous disruption through coordinated assaults, not only by taking civilians hostage but also by forcing entire communities to flee their homes.
The reported abduction also comes only weeks after Nigerian authorities announced the rescue of 308 citizens abducted in separate attacks in Niger and neighbouring Kwara states. In that operation, 145 victims from Niger State and 163 from Kwara State were rescued from the Kainji Lake National Park forest in New Bussa through a coordinated intelligence-led operation involving the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, armed forces, the DSS and police.
That earlier operation demonstrated the potential effectiveness of intelligence sharing and inter-agency cooperation. The latest directive from Tinubu places similar emphasis on a coordinated security response as authorities attempt to locate the new group of abductees.
However, the challenge facing security forces remains substantial.
The affected communities are located in an area where forests and difficult terrain can provide armed groups with concealment and avenues for movement. The ability of kidnappers to transport large numbers of captives away from populated areas also raises questions about early warning systems, intelligence gathering and the protection available to rural communities.
The attack has therefore renewed calls for stronger preventive measures rather than relying solely on rescue operations after abductions have already taken place.
The latest episode also underlines the broader repercussions of insecurity, beyond the immediate victims. The reported relocation of thousands of inhabitants into Benin implies that communities are increasingly being forced to cross national boundaries for fear of violence.
Such displacement can put further strain on host communities, affecting livelihoods, education, agriculture, and local economies.
The situation has once again highlighted the importance of resolving Nigeria’s abduction epidemic through a combination of intelligence-led security operations, increased protection for vulnerable populations, and steps to prevent armed groups from exploiting ungoverned places.
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