President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an immediate and intensified security response following deadly terrorist attacks in parts of Niger State that claimed the lives of at least thirty people and led to the abduction of many others. The attacks, which targeted rural communities, have once again exposed the fragile security situation in parts of northern Nigeria.
According to local accounts, heavily armed assailants stormed several villages in coordinated raids, arriving on motorcycles and shooting indiscriminately. Homes were set ablaze, food stores looted, and residents forced to flee for safety. Those unable to escape were either killed or taken away by the attackers.
In response, President Tinubu directed the military, police, and other security agencies to deploy additional troops and assets to the affected areas. A presidential statement emphasized that the federal government would not tolerate continued assaults on innocent citizens and vowed that perpetrators would be tracked down and neutralized.
Security sources confirmed that aerial surveillance, ground patrols, and intelligence led operations have been activated. Special units are reportedly pursuing the attackers along known forest routes believed to serve as hideouts for criminal groups operating in the region.
The Niger State Government welcomed the federal intervention, describing it as timely and necessary. State officials disclosed that emergency response teams had been dispatched to assist displaced residents, while medical personnel were attending to those injured during the attacks.
Community leaders, however, expressed frustration over recurring violence, noting that previous security operations had failed to deliver lasting peace. They called for sustained military presence and better intelligence coordination with local vigilante groups who understand the terrain.
Human rights advocates urged the government to ensure that military operations adhere to international standards, protecting civilians while confronting terrorists. They also called for long term solutions addressing poverty, unemployment, and arms proliferation, which fuel insecurity.
As security forces intensify their operations, residents remain hopeful that decisive action will bring relief and restore confidence in the government’s ability to protect lives and property.
