Nigerian Military Launches Massive Rescue Operation After Hundreds of Worshippers Abducted in North

Nigerian security forces have initiated a widespread search operation following the abduction of an estimated 600 worshippers from a mosque in the northern part of the country last week. The military and various security agencies commenced the mission on Wednesday after President Bola Tinubu mandated a comprehensive rescue effort to locate the victims taken near Dekera village in north-central Niger State.

“I have directed the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, and all relevant security and intelligence agencies to launch a coordinated rescue operation immediately for the victims of the recent mass abduction in Niger State,” President Tinubu stated on social media.

Mass kidnappings targeting civilians for ransom have seen an increase across northern Nigeria throughout the year, emerging as a critical political issue ahead of the upcoming presidential election in January. A video released on Sunday showed a large group of captives held by armed individuals in a forested area, with crying children audible and a gunman speaking in the Hausa language to instruct families on identifying their relatives.

While news agencies could not independently verify the filming date or location of the footage, local officials reported that 30 people were killed during the attacks and subsequently buried on Sunday. In response to the escalating crisis, Amnesty International called on Nigerian authorities to ensure the safe return of the worshippers, highlighting the escalating danger of mass abductions in the region.

The Nigerian presidency strongly condemned the attack, assuring grieving families of national support. Meanwhile, community leaders reported that at least 2,000 residents fled across the border into neighbouring Benin following the assaults. Security experts note that the daylight nature of the kidnappings underscores ongoing security challenges in the area, though President Tinubu remains resolute in defending affected communities and securing the release of all hostages.