President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a high-level directive to the nation’s top security brass to hunt down and bring to justice the terrorists responsible for a weekend massacre in Kasuwan Daji, Niger State. The President’s mandate follows a brutal assault that left at least 42 villagers dead and many others missing.
The President communicated the order via an official Facebook statement, directing the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the heads of the Police and Department of State Services (DSS) to mobilise all resources. He emphasised that those who "aid, abet, or enable" the perpetrators would face the same legal consequences as the attackers themselves.
"These terrorists have tested the resolve of our country and its people. They must face the full consequences of their criminal actions," President Tinubu stated. He declared that no matter the intent of the assailants, they must be hunted down and denied any form of sanctuary within the nation’s borders.
The attack occurred Saturday evening when gunmen on motorcycles stormed the local market in the Borgu Local Government Area. Witnesses described a scene of chaos as the attackers opened fire indiscriminately, set fire to market stalls, and looted food items. Residents reported that the violence lasted for nearly three hours without a response from security forces.
According to Niger State Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun, the official death toll stands at over 30, though local community leaders and the Catholic Church of Kontagora Diocese put the figure higher, at 40 or 42. Among the victims were women and children, while several other villagers were forcibly taken into the surrounding National Park Forest.
In his directive, President Tinubu specifically ordered the urgent rescue of all abducted victims. He also mandated an intensification of security operations around vulnerable communities, particularly those situated near dense forest reserves that frequently serve as hideouts for armed gangs.
"These times demand our humanity," the President wrote. "We must stand together as one people and confront these monsters in unison. United, we can and must defeat them." He concluded his message by praying for the souls of the departed and reaffirming his commitment to reclaiming peace for the affected communities.
The Kasuwan Daji raid is the latest in a string of violent incidents in Niger State. Just last November, more than 300 schoolchildren and teachers were kidnapped from a Catholic school in the nearby Papiri community. While those victims were eventually released, the recurring violence has sparked significant concern regarding the safety of rural trade and education.
