Nigeria’s president orders rescue after mass kidnapping at mosque

What the report says

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered the military and other security agencies to carry out a rescue operation after a mass abduction during an attack on a mosque in Niger State, in north-central Nigeria. France24 Africa reported that the incident took place last week, and that local authorities were still trying to confirm how many people were missing.

Residents and local officials cited in the report said the number abducted could be very high, with community members describing roughly 600 women, children and elderly people taken away. An armed group also circulated a video on Facebook and WhatsApp that appeared to show abductees, although the figure could not be independently verified by Reuters, which France24 cited.

The report said an official from Borgu district stated that 30 people were killed in the attack and buried on Sunday, and that villages including Dakera, Gidan-Zana and Sabon Gida were affected. A traditional leader said thousands of residents fled into neighboring Benin Republic after the assault.

In a statement, the presidency condemned the attack and said those responsible would face justice. The case comes amid broader insecurity in parts of northwest and north-central Nigeria, where kidnappings for ransom have become common and armed groups have increasingly expanded their reach.