President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a stern directive to Nigeria’s top security brass to track down and apprehend the terrorists responsible for the recent attack on the Kasuwan Daji community in Niger State.
In a statement released on Sunday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the President ordered the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Service Chiefs to ensure the perpetrators are “swiftly brought to justice.”
The mandate also extends to the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Beyond the manhunt, President Tinubu emphasised the urgency of humanitarian efforts, directing security agencies to prioritise the immediate rescue of all victims abducted during the raid. The attack on Kasuwan Daji notably involved the kidnapping of several women and children.
The violence in Niger State is suspected to be the work of terrorists fleeing Sokoto and Zamfara states following a U.S. air strike conducted on Christmas Eve.
Condemning the killings and abductions in the strongest terms, the President sent his condolences to the government and people of Niger State, vowing that the government would not be intimidated.
“These terrorists have tested the resolve of our country and its people,” the President declared. “They must, therefore, face the full consequences of their criminal actions. No matter who they are or what their intent is, they must be hunted down.”
The President further warned that legal consequences would extend beyond the gunmen to “all those who aid, abet, or enable them in any form.”
To prevent further bloodshed, the President assured residents that security forces have been mandated to intensify operations in vulnerable areas, specifically focusing on forest hideouts used by criminal elements.
In a call for national solidarity, Tinubu urged Nigerians to avoid divisive rhetoric that could undermine national security.
“These times demand our humanity,” he said. “We must stand together as one people and confront these monsters in unison. United, we can and must defeat them, deny them any sanctuary.”
