Nigerian Leader Launches Manhunt After Mass Kidnappings in Niger State; Abductors Post Proof-of-Life Video

President Bola Tinubu has ordered security forces to hunt down the armed men responsible for a series of deadly village raids in a remote area of Niger state, after the abductors released a social media video purporting to show some of their captives.

The coordinated assaults took place last Friday, with residents saying several mosques were struck at the same time while worshippers gathered for prayers. Gunmen described by locals as wearing military-style attire targeted the villages of Dekara, Gidan Zana, Sabon Gida and Masaka. A police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, said the death toll exceeded 40, though the precise figure has yet to be confirmed. One local youth leader estimated that up to 500 people might have been taken — a figure that remains unverified.

The president's directive followed the emergence of footage showing a group of people seated in a forest, whom the kidnappers claimed were among those seized in the raids. The youth leader, who declined to give his name, said he recognized numerous faces from his own community, including an elderly man from Gidan Zana he described as being like a grandfather to them.

For some families, the video brought mixed emotions. Those who spotted relatives in the footage expressed relief that their loved ones were confirmed alive and could potentially be rescued — a comfort, the youth leader noted, not shared by families who still have no word on missing relatives.

A local blogger said many frightened residents have abandoned their homes, fleeing to nearby states or crossing into Benin Republic. Survivors are receiving medical care, some for severe injuries. A local official added a further disturbing detail: the attackers allegedly laid improvised explosive devices along the routes they used to march captives into the forest, and one teenage boy was killed when a device detonated as he attempted to flee.

No ransom demands have surfaced so far. Authorities initially believed the perpetrators belonged to the criminal gangs — known locally as bandits — that carry out kidnappings and lootings for ransom across swathes of Nigeria.

In a statement released through spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu condemned the killings and abductions, declaring that the perpetrators "are enemies of peace and enemies of humanity, who will not go scot-free." He also extended condolences to the bereaved families.

The raid underscores deteriorating security in the Borgu region, which borders Kebbi and Kwara states as well as Benin. Earlier this month, police announced the rescue of 145 people kidnapped from four other villages in the same area. Officials have also voiced alarm over jihadist groups gaining ground in north-western Nigeria and along the border, reporting that fighters have recently moved into communities and begun imposing religious restrictions on residents.