President Tinubu has ordered security agencies to track down terrorists behind the Kasuwan Daji attack in Niger State and rescue abducted victims without delay.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued firm and wide-ranging directives to Nigeria’s security leadership following the brutal assault on Kasuwan Daji market in Niger State, which claimed dozens of lives and left a community in mourning.
The President ordered an immediate manhunt for the perpetrators and demanded the swift rescue of all victims abducted during the incident.
The directive, announced on Sunday, covers the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, all Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to the Presidency, the operation is to be intelligence-driven, coordinated, and sustained until those responsible for the Kasuwan Daji attack are apprehended and prosecuted.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, January 3, at the bustling Kasuwan Daji market in the Demo community, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.
Armed men stormed the market in the evening, opening fire on traders and residents before abducting several people, including women and children.
By the time the attackers withdrew in the early hours of Sunday, at least 30 people had lost their lives.
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of chaos as traders ran for safety while others were trapped in the open market.
The attackers reportedly looted food items and valuables worth millions of naira before setting sections of the market ablaze, compounding the destruction and leaving livelihoods ruined.
Security sources believe the assailants may be part of terror groups relocating from other conflict zones in the North-West.
Preliminary intelligence suggests the criminals could be fleeing intensified military pressure in Sokoto and Zamfara States following recent international-backed air operations.
Authorities say such movements encourage desperate attacks on soft civilian targets, including rural markets and border communities.
Reacting to the Kasuwan Daji attack, President Tinubu condemned the killings in strong terms, describing them as a direct assault on national peace and the safety of innocent Nigerians.
In a statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, the President said the incident would not be allowed to go unanswered.
He extended heartfelt condolences to families who lost loved ones, as well as to the government and people of Niger State, assuring them that the Federal Government shares in their grief and remains committed to restoring security in the area.
“These terrorists have tested the resolve of our nation,” the President declared.
“They must face the full consequences of their actions. No matter where they hide or who supports them, they will be found and brought to justice.”
Beyond the immediate manhunt, President Tinubu directed security agencies to intensify patrols and surveillance around vulnerable communities, particularly those located near forests and border corridors that have become havens for criminal groups.
He stressed that intelligence gathering must be strengthened to prevent further attacks and disrupt terror networks before they strike.
The President also emphasized the urgent need to rescue those abducted during the Kasuwan Daji attack, noting that the safety of victims remains a top priority of his administration.
He instructed security commanders to deploy all available resources to locate the captives and ensure their safe return.
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Community leaders in Borgu Local Government Area have welcomed the President’s intervention but appealed for sustained security presence rather than temporary deployments.
They warned that repeated attacks have weakened farming and trading activities, deepening poverty and displacement across rural Niger State.
In his message to the nation, President Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain united and vigilant, cautioning against rhetoric that could inflame ethnic or religious tensions.
He said moments like this require collective resolve and national solidarity.
“These are times that demand our shared humanity,” the President said.
“We must stand together as one people to confront and defeat these forces of terror. United, we can deny them any sanctuary and reclaim peace in our communities.”
As investigations continue, security agencies say operations linked to the Kasuwan Daji attack will be expanded beyond Niger State to prevent the perpetrators from escaping across state or international borders.
Authorities have called on residents to cooperate by providing credible information that could aid the ongoing manhunt.
For many residents of Demo community, the road to recovery will be long. Yet, the Federal Government insists that accountability, justice, and renewed security remain non-negotiable outcomes of this tragedy.
Ireport247news
