President Bola Tinubu has ordered a massive manhunt for the gunmen who killed at least 30 people and abducted dozens of women and children in central Niger State.
In a strongly worded statement on Sunday, Mr Tinubu directed the military, police, and intelligence services to track down the perpetrators, warning that the “terrorists” must face the “full consequences of their criminal actions.”
The attack took place on Saturday afternoon at the Kasuwan Daji market in Demo village. Armed gangs—known locally as bandits—razed the market and looted food supplies before kidnapping scores of residents.
Links to US airstrikes
The Nigerian presidency has linked the surge in violence to recent military operations further north.
Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga suggested that the attackers may be militants fleeing from Sokoto and Zamfara states. Those regions were targeted by US MQ-9 Reaper drones on Christmas Eve, an operation aimed at the “Lakurawa” group—an insurgent faction with ties to jihadist networks in the Sahel.
Security analysts believe that as these groups are pushed out of their northern strongholds, they are moving south into Niger State to establish new bases.
‘No sanctuary’
President Tinubu’s directive comes at a time of heightened anxiety over Nigeria’s internal security. According to the Global Terrorism Index, Nigeria saw a sharp rise in fatalities last year, with more than 2,200 people killed by armed groups in the first half of 2025 alone.
“These terrorists have tested the resolve of our country,” the President said. “No matter who they are or what their intent is, they must be hunted down. We must deny them any sanctuary.”
The government has proposed a record 5.4 trillion naira ($3.3bn) security budget for 2026 to combat the growing insurgency.
Security Snapshot: Niger State
- Frequent Targets: Rural markets and schools are increasingly vulnerable; over 300 pupils were abducted in the same region last November.
- The Forest Factor: The vast Kainji Lake National Park serves as a dense, under-policed corridor for armed groups moving between states.
- Casualty Trends: Fatalities from non-state armed groups in 2025 have already surpassed the total recorded for the previous year.
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