Tinubu Directs Hunt for Perpetrators After Deadly Niger State Attack

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the military and security agencies to pursue and apprehend those responsible for the deadly attack in Niger State.

Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a full-scale security operation to track down and apprehend the perpetrators of a brutal attack that left dozens dead and many others abducted in Niger State over the weekend.

The directive follows an assault on Kasuwan-Daji and surrounding communities in the Borgu local government area, where gunmen stormed a busy market on Saturday afternoon, 3rd January, killing at least 30 villagers and abducting several others, according to police reports. Local residents and church officials say the death toll could be higher, with some estimates of up to 40 or more fatalities as recovery efforts continue.

President Tinubu, speaking in an official statement released on Sunday, 4th January, condemned the attack as “cruel and nefarious,” and instructed senior security officials including the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to launch a manhunt for the militants responsible.

“These terrorists have tested the resolve of our country and its people. They must, therefore, face the full consequences of their criminal actions,” the President declared, warning that anyone found to have aided or abetted the attackers will also be brought to justice. Tinubu also mandated an urgent push to rescue all abducted victims and to increase security operations around vulnerable communities, particularly regions near forest hideouts often exploited by armed groups.

State House Abuja

Authorities say the attackers are believed to have emerged from nearby forests along Kainji Lake National Park and the Kabe district, where banditry and militant activity have surged in recent months. Local police have deployed personnel to the scene and are coordinating with military units to search for survivors and detained suspects.

The assault in Kasuwan-Daji was part of a broader wave of violence affecting remote communities in northern and central Nigeria as security forces struggled to contain a rise in kidnappings and raids that have displaced families and drawn criticism of government responses. The attack also followed international military action targeting extremist cells in northwest Nigeria in late December.

President Tinubu has sent condolences to the families of the victims and appealed for national unity in addressing the security challenges, calling on Nigerians to remain resilient and vigilant in the face of ongoing threats.

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