Nigeria’s president orders rescue after mass kidnapping exposes security failings

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered military and security agencies to launch an urgent rescue operation following a mass kidnapping in north-central Niger State. An armed group posted a video showing about 600 women, children, and elderly people abducted during an attack on a mosque. While Reuters couldn't independently verify the figure, a confirmed count would make it one of Nigeria's largest mass kidnappings in recent years.

The incident highlights the country's inability to protect vulnerable regions where multiple armed groups operate. An official from the affected Borgu district reported that 30 people were killed in the attack, buried on Sunday. Villagers from Dakera, Gidan-Zana, and Sabon Gida communities were affected. President Tinubu condemned the "cowardly" attack and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, directing security chiefs to provide regular updates on rescue efforts.

Traditional leader Abubakar Umar of Dakera community said at least 2,000 people fled to Benin Republic. Security experts believe the gunmen, likely aligned with al Qaeda and Islamic State, will soon demand a ransom. The attack, carried out in broad daylight, demonstrates the ineffectiveness of security operations in some parts of Nigeria.

Mass abductions for ransom have become common in northwestern and north-central Nigeria, with criminal gangs raiding villages, schools, and highways, holding captives for weeks or months while demanding high ransoms.