Nigeria's president orders manhunt after kidnappers upload victim video
The footage shows dozens of men, women and children sitting in a forest.
Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has initiated a comprehensive manhunt for armed kidnappers responsible for fatal assaults on four villages in a secluded area of Niger state last Friday. The presidential directive follows the emergence of a social media video, uploaded by the kidnappers, purportedly showing individuals abducted last week seated in a forest.
Local residents informed the BBC that multiple mosques were simultaneously targeted during prayer times. A local youth leader estimates that up to 500 people may have been abducted, though this figure remains unverified.
Authorities had previously suspected the perpetrators to be bandits—criminal organizations known for kidnapping and looting for ransom across various regions of Nigeria. No ransom demands have been reported thus far.
The gunmen, reportedly clad in military-style attire, launched attacks on the villages of Dekara, Gidan Zana, Sabon Gida, and Masaka. Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun confirmed to the BBC that over 40 people were killed, though the precise death toll is still unconfirmed.
The unnamed local youth leader, upon reviewing the social media footage, recognized several individuals from his community. "I was able to identify many people. There is an elderly man in the video who is like a grandfather to us," he stated, adding, "He lives in Gidan Zana village." He noted that families who identified relatives in the video found relief in knowing they were alive. "At least they know where their loved ones are and hope they may be rescued, unlike those who still have no information about missing relatives," he added.
A local blogger familiar with the area told the BBC that numerous residents have fled their homes, seeking refuge in adjacent states or across the border into Benin. Some survivors are currently receiving hospital care, including individuals with severe injuries.
A local official also informed the BBC that the attackers planted improvised explosive devices in parts of the affected communities as they led abductees into the forest. He reported that a teenage boy was killed when an explosive detonated as he attempted to escape.
In a statement released by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu condemned the killings and abductions, vowing that those responsible would face justice. "Those who carried out this cowardly attack on defenceless Nigerians are enemies of peace and enemies of humanity, who will not go scot-free," the statement declared. The president also extended his condolences to the families of the deceased.
This attack underscores the escalating insecurity in the Borgu area, which borders Kebbi and Kwara states, as well as neighboring Benin. Earlier this month, police reported the rescue of 145 individuals who had been abducted from four other villages in the region. Local officials have also voiced concerns regarding the increasing presence of jihadist groups operating in parts of north-western Nigeria and along the border, noting that some fighters have recently entered communities and imposed religious restrictions on residents.