Nigeria President Launches Manhunt After Kidnappers Release Victim Video

Sun Sep 06 2026 01:47:25 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

President Bola Tinubu orders a nationwide hunt after armed kidnappers post a video showing abducted villagers in forest, escalating violence in Niger state.

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full‑scale manhunt after video footage of kidnapped villagers was posted by armed gunmen in Niger state. The attack hit four villages, where dozens of men were reportedly killed and up to 500 people feared missing. Local residents report that mosques were targeted during prayers. Authorities suspect the attackers are bandits, while a local youth leader identified people in the video and reported families relieved to know their relatives are alive. Tinubu condemned the violence and vowed that those responsible would face justice, amid growing insecurity in the region.

Nigeria President Launches Manhunt After Kidnappers Release Victim Video

President Bola Tinubu demanded a nationwide search after armed gunmen from Niger state posted a video on social media showing villagers abducted into a forest. The footage shows people with blurred faces, evidently the victims of the attack that hit four villages last Friday.

Local reports say the gunmen targeted mosques during prayers, killing more than 40 people and abducting as many as 500. The attacks hit Dekara, Gidan Zana, Sabon Gida and Masaka, and authorities suspect a criminal bandit gang, not a jihadist group.

The president’s order comes after the video was released, giving families a glimpse of their missing relatives and sparking relief for some and continued uncertainty for others. A local youth leader recognised several community members in the footage and reported other villagers still waiting for information.

Tinubu condemned the killings and abductions as “enemies of peace and humanity.” He pledged that those who orchestrated the “cowardly attack on defenseless Nigerians” would be brought to justice. The president also expressed condolences to families of the victims.

The incident adds to growing insecurity in the Borgu area, which borders Kebbi, Kwara and Benin. Earlier this month police rescued 145 abductees from four villages in the same region. Local officials warn that jihadists have begun imposing religious restrictions in nearby communities, heightening tensions.