Nigeria has launched a major coordinated security operation to locate and rescue hundreds of kidnapped mosque worshippers following a mass abduction in Niger State.
President Bola Tinubu ordered the operation after an estimated 600 worshippers were abducted during attacks around Dekera village in north-central Nigeria last week.
The rescue effort involves the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and other security and intelligence agencies.
The operation comes amid growing concern over mass kidnappings in northern Nigeria, where armed groups have increasingly targeted communities, travellers, schools and places of worship.
Tinubu said the government would mobilise all relevant agencies to ensure the safe return of the victims.
Kidnapped mosque worshippers trigger major rescue operation
The Nigerian government began the intensified search after reports emerged that hundreds of people had been taken during attacks in communities around Dekera village.
Tinubu announced that he had directed security agencies to immediately begin a coordinated operation to rescue the kidnapped mosque worshippers.
The president said the Armed Forces, police, intelligence agencies and other relevant institutions would work together to locate the victims and apprehend those responsible.
Authorities have not publicly disclosed operational details, but the scale of the reported abduction has placed renewed pressure on the government to respond swiftly.
The mass kidnapping is among the latest in a series of large-scale abductions reported across northern Nigeria this year.
Security officials are expected to provide the president with regular updates as the rescue mission continues.
Kidnapped mosque worshippers shown in video
Concern over the fate of the kidnapped mosque worshippers intensified after a video emerged showing what appeared to be a large group of captives surrounded by armed men in a forested area.
The footage circulated widely on social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, on Sunday.
Children could reportedly be heard crying in the video, while one of the armed men spoke in Hausa and appeared to address relatives of the captives.
The gunman urged families to identify people they believed were among those being held.
News agencies said they were unable to independently verify the precise location or date when the footage was recorded.
However, reports indicated that no earlier version of the video had been identified before it began circulating on Sunday.
The footage has further heightened anxiety among families and residents of affected communities as security forces intensify efforts to trace the abductors.
Kidnapped mosque worshippers case leaves 30 dead
The attacks that preceded the mass abduction also resulted in fatalities, according to local officials.
An official from the district where the attacks occurred told Reuters that 30 people were killed.
The victims were reportedly buried on Sunday.
The violence also forced thousands of residents to flee their homes, deepening the humanitarian impact of the attacks.
Abubakar Umar, a community leader in Dekera, told Reuters that at least 2,000 people fled into neighbouring Benin following the violence.
The displacement has raised additional concerns about the security of border communities and the vulnerability of civilians living in remote areas.
Residents in affected locations are now waiting for information about the missing worshippers and the progress of the government-led rescue operation.
Kidnapped mosque worshippers spark calls for action
Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to take urgent steps to secure the release of the kidnapped mosque worshippers.
The rights organisation warned that mass abductions have become an increasingly serious security threat across northern Nigeria.
In its first public response to the incident, the Nigerian presidency condemned the attack and promised that those responsible would face justice.
Tinubu expressed sympathy with the families of those killed and abducted, saying the government would continue efforts until the victims were safely accounted for.
The president said the government would not allow armed groups to intimidate Nigerians or undermine the security of communities.
He stressed that protecting lives and securing vulnerable communities remained a priority for his administration.
The presidency also pledged continued engagement with security chiefs throughout the rescue operation.
Kidnapped mosque worshippers highlight Nigeria’s security challenge
The abduction of the kidnapped mosque worshippers has renewed attention on Nigeria’s persistent insecurity, particularly in northern and rural communities.
Mass kidnappings for ransom have become a major concern, with armed groups frequently exploiting difficult terrain and limited security presence in remote areas.
Security analyst Kabir Adamu told Reuters that it was too early to conclusively determine which group carried out the mass abduction.
However, he said the armed men who released the video could eventually contact families or authorities to make ransom demands.
The incident has also revived criticism over the effectiveness of existing security operations.
With national elections approaching, insecurity and the government’s response to kidnapping are expected to remain major issues in public debate.
For now, attention remains focused on the rescue operation and the fate of the hundreds of kidnapped mosque worshippers believed to be in captivity.
Tinubu has vowed that the government will continue its efforts until all abducted persons are accounted for, insisting that Nigeria will defend its people and protect the sanctity of human life.
