President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered security chiefs to hunt down terrorists who killed and abducted civilians during coordinated attacks on communities and a market in Niger State. He condemned the killings and kidnappings in Agwarra and Borgu Local Government Areas, describing the raids as a grave assault on innocent Nigerians and a direct test of the country’s resolve.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President directed the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the DSS to track down the attackers and ensure the immediate rescue of abducted victims. He ordered security agencies to scale up operations around vulnerable communities, especially those close to forests like Kainji Lake National Park that are used as terrorist hideouts.
The terrorists attacked Kasuwan Daji market in Sukumbara area on Saturday, shooting traders, burning stalls, looting shops and abducting residents, including schoolchildren and villagers from surrounding communities. Local figures initially put the death toll at about 42 people across several villages, while a joint security assessment later confirmed at least 30 fatalities, with many still missing.
They also raided a Catholic mission house and school in Sukumbara, where they tried to abduct the parish priest, destroyed religious items and stole motorcycles and cash. Some of the kidnapped children are said to be pupils of St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, a mission that was previously attacked in November when staff and pupils were seized and later freed.
Tinubu sent condolences to the families of the victims and the government and people of Niger State, assuring them of the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring peace. He urged Nigerians to stand together against terrorism, saying the perpetrators and anyone who aids or enables them will be caught and made to face the full consequences of their actions.
The report also highlights recent counter terrorism operations in Kano, Katsina, Kogi and Taraba states, where troops and air assets neutralised dozens of bandits, destroyed weapons and intercepted a major arms cache linked to a notorious kingpin. The military high command praised the troops and appealed for more timely intelligence from the public to sustain pressure on criminal networks.
Prominent opposition figures Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi separately condemned the Niger attacks and demanded tougher action to tackle insecurity. They called for stronger security architecture, better protection of rural communities and a national focus on justice, accountability and the welfare of ordinary citizens.
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