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Joint security forces were deployed to the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to secure affected communities and rescue hundreds of kidnapped residents.
Terrorists launched coordinated attacks across at least five villages last Friday during Islamic prayers, killing several people, burning homes, and seizing victims.
While police estimate the number of abductees between 155 and 164, the perpetrators released a video claiming to hold over 500 people, who security experts believe are hidden inside Kainji National Park.
Community leaders confirmed that arriving troops are expanding their operational base, assisting survivors with mass burials, and using military vehicles to transport displaced villagers to safety in neighbouring Babanna.
Idris Shiyaki, a local community leader, noted that the insurgents had previously lived undetected among the population, stating, “They’ve been living with those people for a long time, and those people have been hiding them.”
Intelligence officers and police spokespersons emphasised that rescue operations are actively underway, prioritising strategic caution over speed.
Police Public Relations Officer Wasiu Abiodun explained, “If you rush it, you might end up losing the lives of these victims you are trying to rescue.”
Before the assault, government officials and law enforcement had repeatedly warned residents to evacuate the area to make way for military clearing operations, though many refused to leave their ancestral land.
Security analysts highlight that at least seven armed groups—including Boko Haram, Lakurawa, and Ansaru factions—currently operate within the region.
This latest raid marks the fourth mass abduction in Niger State over the past nine months, following major kidnapping incidents at St Mary’s School in November 2025 and multiple village raids throughout early 2026.
