Nigerian President Orders Rescue Operation After Mass Mosque Abduction in Niger State

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and intelligence agencies to conduct a coordinated rescue operation following a mass abduction at a mosque in Niger State. The attack occurred during Friday prayers in Dekara village, Borgu Local Government Area, affecting nearby communities including Gidan-Zana and Sabon Gida. While state authorities are working to verify the exact count of missing individuals, local residents and videos posted online by the armed group indicate that roughly 600 women, children, and elderly worshippers were taken, with 30 to 42 people killed in the violence. Following the attack, at least 2,000 residents fled across the border into neighboring Benin Republic.

// Background

Mass kidnappings for ransom by heavily armed criminal gangs have increasingly plagued northwestern and north-central Nigeria. These groups frequently raid rural communities, schools, religious sites, and highways, holding captives in remote forests for extended periods to extract large payments.

// Key Developments

• President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed security chiefs to conduct an immediate, coordinated rescue operation and provide regular updates.
• Armed gunmen attacked worshippers during Friday prayers at Kpenya Mosque in Dekara village, killing at least 30 people.
• Local reports and social media videos posted by the attackers suggest approximately 600 people were abducted, though state officials are still verifying figures.
• At least 2,000 local residents fled into neighboring Benin Republic following the raid.