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[CRIME] · Nigeria, Benin · 12 sources

started · updated

Niger State mass kidnapping: President Tinubu orders rescue operation

Gunmen launched a series of attacks on multiple villages in the Borgu district of Niger State, Nigeria, targeting worshippers during Friday prayers. The assault primarily affected the communities of Dekera, Gidan-Zana, Sabon Gida, and Masaka.

While local officials reported that at least 60 people were kidnapped, residents and social media footage suggest the number of abductees could be as high as 600, including many women, children, and elderly individuals. Some reports indicate that approximately 30 people were killed during the incident and were buried by locals. The attacks have caused significant displacement, with an estimated 2,000 people fleeing across the border into the neighboring Benin Republic.

In response, President Bola Tinubu has ordered a coordinated rescue operation involving the military, police, and the Department of State Services (DSS). The President condemned the attack as a barbaric act and vowed that those responsible would face justice. Security agencies have been tasked with locating the victims and providing regular updates on the rescue efforts.

Entities

Benin Republic · Bola Ahmed Tinubu · Bola Tinubu · Borgu Local Government Area · Center for Information Technology and Development · Dekera · Department of State Services · George Buchi Nwabueze · Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission · Niger State

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