Tinubu orders military rescue following mass abduction in Niger State

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered the military and ​other security agencies on Tuesday to launch an immediate rescue operation after scores of people were kidnapped by gunmen in north-central ‌Niger State last week.

An armed group posted a video on Facebook and WhatsApp showing what residents said were about 600 women, children and older people abducted during an attack on a mosque in the state.

Reuters could not independently verify the figure, but if confirmed it would rank among Nigeria’s largest and most audacious mass kidnappings in recent years.

The ​incident highlights Nigeria’s inability to protect swathes of the country where an array of armed groups operate.

Any effort to rescue ​the hostages would be complicated by the gunmen’s knowledge of the remote border areas and ability to hide in ⁠the thick bush.

An official from Borgu district, where the attack happened, said 30 people had been killed during the attack and were buried on ​Sunday.

The official, who declined to be identified because she was not authorised to speak to the media, said villagers from the communities of Dakera, Gidan-Zana ​and Sabon Gida were affected. ‘WE WILL DEFEND OUR PEOPLE’ In its first public comments on the incident, the presidency condemned the attack as cowardly and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.

“Terror will not cow Nigeria.

We will defend our people, protect our communities and uphold the sanctity of human life,” Tinubu said in a statement.

Tinubu ​directed security chiefs to provide regular updates on efforts to rescue the abductees and account for all those taken.

Abubakar Umar, the traditional head of ​Dakera community, said at least 2000 people fled into neighbouring Benin Republic following the attack.

Northwest Nigeria has long been a transit zone for arms and gunmen criss-crossing ‌West Africa, ⁠but the area is increasingly a site for attacks by militants aligned with al Qaeda and Islamic State based in Nigeria or neighbouring Niger and Benin.

Kabir Adamu, an Abuja-based security expert, said it was not possible to say who was responsible, but he expected the gunmen who released the video would soon reach out to demand a ransom.

The incident, which took place in broad daylight, showed how ineffective security operations have been, he said.