Nigeria has commenced a search for hundreds of individuals kidnapped from mosques in the northern region of the country. The military and other security services began the operation on Wednesday after President Bola Tinubu ordered a major rescue mission to locate an estimated 600 worshippers who were abducted from the vicinity of Dekera village in north-central Niger State last week.
President Tinubu stated on social media late on Tuesday, "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."
Mass kidnappings for ransom have been increasing in northern Nigeria since the beginning of the year. This issue has gained political significance ahead of the presidential election scheduled for January, with security expected to be a key campaign topic.
On Sunday, kidnappers released a video appearing to show a large group of individuals held captive by armed men in a forested area. In the footage, which circulated widely on Facebook and WhatsApp, children can be heard crying, and a gunman speaks in the Hausa language, urging families of the captives to identify their relatives.
News agencies were unable to verify the exact date or location of the video, but it has not been found posted prior to Sunday. An official from the district where the attacks occurred reported to Reuters that 30 individuals were killed and buried on Sunday.
Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to secure the release of the worshippers, highlighting the increasing threat posed by mass abductions in northern Nigeria. In a statement, the Nigerian presidency condemned the "cowardly attack on defenceless Nigerians" and assured that those responsible would face justice.
President Tinubu expressed solidarity with the families of the victims, stating, "You are not alone. The entire nation shares your anguish. We will not rest until your sons, daughters, mothers and fathers are brought back safely to you."
Abubakar Umar, head of the Dekera community, informed Reuters that at least 2,000 people fled to neighboring Benin following the attacks. Northwest Nigeria has historically been a transit area for arms and gunmen moving through West Africa, with the region increasingly experiencing attacks from Boko Haram and ISIL (ISIS).
Kabir Adamu, a security expert based in Abuja, indicated that it is unclear who is responsible for the mass abductions but anticipated that the gunmen who released the video would likely demand a ransom. He noted that the daylight kidnapping highlights the ineffectiveness of security operations in Nigeria.
Nevertheless, President Tinubu asserted, "terror will not cow Nigeria. We will defend our people, protect our communities, and uphold the sanctity of human life," adding that he has instructed the country’s security chiefs to provide regular updates on the progress of the rescue operation until all those abducted are accounted for.