Borgu kidnapping: IGP deploys AIG, tactical team to Niger

Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu has dispatched the Assistant Inspector-General of Police for Zone 7, Victor Olaiya, along with a tactical team, to Niger State. Disu made the announcement during a visit to the Niger State Police Headquarters in Minna, following a mass kidnapping in the Borgu Local Government Area. The deployment came after Disu met with the state governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, and the Deputy Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba.

Disu emphasized that the police were not alone in the rescue mission, stating that the Nigerian Army and other intelligence agencies were working collaboratively to ensure the safe recovery of the abducted residents. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far but stated that certain measures, due to their operational sensitivity, could not be disclosed publicly.

Despite the challenging conditions, Disu reported that the officers' morale remained high, and his visit aimed to reassure them of the support from the police hierarchy.

Earlier, Commissioner of Police Adamu Abdullahi Elleman expressed gratitude to Disu for the intervention, particularly the deployment of AIG Olaiya and the tactical team to bolster the command's response to the security situation. Elleman informed that the tactical team would proceed to Borgu upon arrival in the state to join the ongoing operation, further strengthening efforts to rescue the abducted individuals and secure the affected communities.

The command was actively working to determine the exact number of people abducted during the attacks, while security agencies continued to locate and rescue the victims.

Disu also called for additional resources, including more personnel, armoured vehicles, surveillance equipment, and protective gear, to enhance the security personnel's capacity to protect communities. He stated that the police were deployed nationwide, confronting armed groups, with losses including 10 officers killed while repelling bandits in Kebbi, as well as other casualties in Zamfara and Yobe.