Nigerian President Bola Tinubu ordered the military and other security agencies on Tuesday to launch an immediate rescue operation after scores of people were kidnapped by gunmen in north-central Niger State last week.
An armed group posted a video on Facebook and WhatsApp showing what residents said were about 600 women, children and older people abducted during an attack on a mosque in the state.
Reuters could not independently verify the figure, but if confirmed it would rank among Nigeria’s largest and most audacious mass kidnappings in recent years.
The incident highlights Nigeria’s inability to protect swathes of the country where an array of armed groups operate. Any effort to rescue the hostages would be complicated by the gunmen’s knowledge of the remote border areas and ability to hide in the thick bush.
An official from Borgu district, where the attack happened, said 30 people had been killed during the attack and were buried on Sunday.
