Nigeria has launched a major security operation to rescue hundreds of worshippers abducted from communities in Niger State, following a directive by President Bola Tinubu for security agencies to intensify efforts to locate and safely recover the victims.
The coordinated operation, which began on Wednesday, involves the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and other security and intelligence agencies.
The victims are believed to number about 600 and were abducted during attacks around Dekera village in Niger State last week.
President Tinubu ordered the immediate rescue operation after reports emerged of the mass abduction, which has heightened concerns over the worsening kidnapping crisis in northern Nigeria.
In a statement posted on social media, the president said he had directed the relevant security agencies to work together to rescue those abducted.
He also ordered security chiefs to provide him with regular updates on the operation until all the victims had been accounted for.
The mass abduction has drawn widespread concern, particularly after a video showing what appeared to be hundreds of captives in a forested location began circulating on social media.
The footage, reportedly shared on Facebook and WhatsApp, showed a large group of people being held by armed men. Children could be heard crying in the background, while one of the gunmen addressed the families of the captives in Hausa and asked them to identify their relatives.
The exact location and date when the video was recorded could not immediately be independently verified. However, there were no indications that the particular version of the footage had circulated before Sunday.
The kidnapping followed attacks in the area in which an official from the affected district said about 30 people were killed. The victims were reportedly buried on Sunday.
The attacks have also triggered a significant displacement of residents. Abubakar Umar, head of the Dekera community, told Reuters that at least 2,000 people fled to neighbouring Benin following the violence.
The latest incident has further intensified concerns about the spread of mass kidnapping and armed violence across northern Nigeria.
Kidnapping for ransom has remained a major security challenge, with criminal groups increasingly targeting rural communities and vulnerable residents. The worsening situation has also become a politically sensitive issue ahead of Nigeria’s next presidential election, with security expected to feature prominently in political campaigns.
Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian authorities to secure the immediate release of the abducted worshippers, warning that the increasing frequency of mass kidnappings poses a serious threat to civilians.
The Nigerian presidency also condemned the attack and promised that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Tinubu expressed sympathy with the families of those killed and kidnapped, assuring them that the government would continue working to bring their loved ones home safely.
The president described the attack as a cowardly assault on defenceless Nigerians and vowed that the government would not be intimidated by the activities of armed groups.
Terror will not cow Nigeria, Tinubu said, stressing that his administration would defend citizens, protect communities and uphold the sanctity of human life.
Security experts have cautioned against prematurely attributing the abductions to any particular armed group.
Kabir Adamu, an Abuja-based security expert, said it was too early to determine who was behind the mass kidnapping. However, he suggested that the gunmen could eventually demand ransom for the release of the victims.
He also described the abduction, which reportedly occurred in broad daylight, as an indication of the challenges facing security operations in parts of the country.
Northern Nigeria has continued to face threats from criminal kidnapping networks and armed groups operating across remote areas and porous borders.
The region’s proximity to Niger, Chad and Benin has also created concerns over the movement of weapons and armed groups across borders.
Authorities now face mounting pressure to secure the safe release of the hundreds of abducted worshippers while preventing further attacks on vulnerable communities.
The rescue operation ordered by Tinubu is expected to continue until security agencies establish the whereabouts of the victims and bring them back safely.
The latest incident has once again placed Nigeria’s kidnapping crisis at the centre of national security concerns, with families of the missing victims anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones.
