TINUBU ORDERS SECURITY AGENCIES TO RESCUE WORSHIPPERS ABDUCTED IN NIGER STATE

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies to begin a coordinated operation to rescue worshippers abducted during Friday prayers in Niger State.

The order followed the kidnapping of several worshippers from four mosques located in Dekara, Kpenya, Sabon-Gida and Gidan-Zana communities in Borgu Local Government Area.

According to local reports, armed men reportedly invaded the mosques simultaneously while Jumu’at prayers were in progress and forced worshippers into nearby forests.

The exact number of victims remains uncertain. Early reports indicated that dozens of people were abducted, but a video circulating online has raised concerns that the number could be much higher.

Reuters reported that the footage appeared to show about 600 women, children and elderly persons being held by armed men in a forest. However, the news agency stated that it could not independently verify the number of captives or confirm when and where the video was recorded.