Tinubu Orders Hunt For Gunmen After Deadly Niger State Attacks

President Bola Tinubu has ordered security forces to hunt down gunmen accused of killing more than 40 people and abducting residents from four villages in Borgu, Niger State. Several mosques were reportedly attacked during prayers, while a video showing alleged captives in a forest has raised fears over the scale of the abductions. Many residents have fled the area, while survivors are receiving medical treatment. Authorities are investigating whether the attackers were bandits or jihadist fighters, amid growing concerns over armed groups operating near Nigeria's border with Benin. The attacks follow the reported rescue of 145 abducted people from other villages in the region earlier this month.

President Bola Tinubu has ordered Nigeria's security forces to track down gunmen accused of killing more than 40 people and abducting residents from four villages in Niger State.
The attacks took place last Friday in the remote Borgu area, close to Nigeria's borders with Benin, Kebbi and Kwara states.
The violence has triggered a major security operation and forced many residents to flee their homes as authorities work to establish the full scale of the attacks.

MOSQUES AMONG AREAS ATTACKED

Residents said several mosques were attacked while worshippers were attending prayers.
The gunmen reportedly raided Dekara, Gidan Zana, Sabon Gida and Masaka, wearing military-style clothing and carrying weapons.
A local youth leader claimed that as many as 500 people may have been abducted, although that figure has not been independently verified.
Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun told the BBC that more than 40 people were killed, but authorities said they were still working to determine the exact death toll.

KIDNAPPING VIDEO OFFERS FAMILIES A GLIMMER OF HOPE

The scale of the abductions became clearer after the attackers circulated a video on social media showing a large group of people sitting in a forest.
The kidnappers claimed those shown were among the people taken during the attacks.
For some families, the footage was the first indication that relatives who had disappeared were still alive.
Others remain uncertain about the fate of missing family members.
The video has also intensified pressure on authorities to locate the captives and bring them home safely.

SURVIVORS RECEIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT

Several survivors are receiving treatment in hospitals after suffering injuries during the attacks.
A local official also said the attackers planted improvised explosive devices while moving abducted residents towards the forest.
According to the official, a teenage boy was killed when one of the explosives detonated as he attempted to escape.
The use of explosives has added another dangerous dimension to the security challenge facing communities in the area.

RESIDENTS FLEE THEIR HOMES

Many residents have reportedly left the affected communities following the attacks.
Some have moved to neighbouring Nigerian states, while others have reportedly crossed the border into Benin in search of safety.
The displacement has added to the humanitarian consequences of the violence, particularly for families who have lost relatives or remain separated from loved ones.

TINUBU ORDERS PURSUIT OF ATTACKERS

President Tinubu condemned the killings and abductions and directed security agencies to pursue those responsible.
In a statement issued by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, the president expressed condolences to the families of the victims and pledged that the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
The order comes as security agencies face increasing pressure to prevent armed groups from establishing a stronger presence in remote communities.

BANDITS OR JIHADIST GROUPS?

Authorities initially suspected that the attackers were armed bandits, criminal groups that operate across parts of Nigeria and are frequently involved in kidnapping, looting and ransom-related crimes.
However, the identity of the attackers remains unclear.
No ransom demand has been publicly reported in connection with the latest incident.
Local officials have also raised concerns about the growing presence of jihadist groups in parts of north-western Nigeria and along the border with Benin.
They say some fighters have recently entered communities and attempted to impose religious restrictions on residents.
The uncertainty over the identity and motives of the attackers is likely to complicate the security response.

PREVIOUS ABDUCTIONS RAISED ALARMS

The latest violence is not an isolated incident in Borgu.
Earlier this month, police said 145 people were rescued after being abducted from four other villages in the region.
The repeated attacks have raised concerns that armed groups are becoming increasingly confident in remote parts of Niger State.
The proximity of the area to international borders also creates additional challenges for security forces, as attackers can potentially move between communities and across borders to evade pursuit.

A GROWING SECURITY CHALLENGE

The attacks highlight the continuing difficulty Nigeria faces in protecting isolated communities from armed groups.
While much of the country's security response has focused on long-running insurgencies and banditry, officials are increasingly concerned about the overlap between criminal gangs and extremist groups.
For residents of Borgu, the immediate priority is the safe return of those abducted and the restoration of security.
For the federal government, the attacks present another test of its ability to protect vulnerable communities and prevent armed groups from expanding their influence in Nigeria's border regions.