Tinubu orders rescue of Niger mass abduction victims

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an immediate and coordinated rescue operation for the victims of a mass abduction that occurred during Friday prayers in Niger State, an attack that has left dozens dead and hundreds missing. The directive, issued on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, came as authorities worked to verify the scale of the crisis in the Borgu Local Government Area.

The assault took place on Friday, August 21, when armed men simultaneously raided multiple communities, including Dekara, Kpenya, SabonGida, and GidanZana, targeting worshippers during Jumaat prayers. Residents reported that the attackers, arriving in large numbers, took control of the mosques and led many congregants into the forest. An official from the Borgu district stated that 30 people were killed during the attacks and were buried on Sunday. While an official toll has not been released, local residents and reports indicated that roughly 600 women, children, and elderly people were abducted. A video circulating on social media appeared to show several hundred hostages gathered in a forest, though the exact number and location could not be independently verified.