Nigeria Orders Military Rescue After Mass Kidnapping In Niger State

Abuja, August 25, 2026 - Nigerian President Bola Tinubu ordered the military and security agencies to launch an urgent operation to rescue people abducted by armed men in Niger State, north-central Nigeria.

The attack occurred when armed men posted videos appearing to show large numbers of civilians, including women, children and elderly people, seized during an assault on a mosque. Nigerian authorities condemned the operation as a cowardly act and pledged to bring perpetrators to justice.

Tinubu said Nigeria would not be intimidated by terrorism and directed security chiefs to provide regular updates on rescue efforts and the whereabouts of abductees.

Kidnappings have become a persistent security challenge in parts of north-west and north-central Nigeria, where armed groups frequently target communities, schools and roads. The episode highlights continuing instability in Africa's largest economy and its spillover risks for regional trade and investor confidence.