By Akakan Umoh
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) to hunt down and apprehend the perpetrators of the Kasuwan Daji attack.
Tinubu issued the directives on Sunday by his media aide Bayo Onanuga in response to the recent killings of villagers in Niger State by terrorists suspected to be fleeing from Sokoto and Zamfara following the United States’ air strike on Christmas Eve.
The terrorists launched a deadly attack in a village market in Kabe District, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State on Sunday killing nearly 40 persons.
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President Tinubu ordered the security agencies to ensure that the terrorists were swiftly brought to justice.
“These terrorists have tested the resolve of our country and its people. 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. They, and all those who aid, abet, or enable them in any form, will be caught and brought to justice.”
He also directed security agencies to rescue all the abducted victims urgently.
The President strongly condemned the attack on the Kasuwan Daji Community and the abduction of women and children.
He also sent his condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the government and people of Niger State.
President Tinubu assured the people of Niger State that security agencies had been mandated to intensify operations around vulnerable communities, particularly those near the forests that have served as hideouts for criminal elements.
He urged Nigerians to remain united and resolute in the face of this tragedy and cautioned against divisive rhetoric that could undermine national security and cohesion during this challenging period.
“These times demand our humanity. We must stand together as one people and confront these monsters in unison.
“United, we can and must defeat them, deny them any sanctuary. We must reclaim the peace and security of these attacked communities,” he added.
This is coming on the heels of troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF), supported by the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma, neutralising no fewer than 23 bandits fleeing Kano State after coordinated attacks on Shanono and Tsanyawa Local Government Areas.
A statement issued on Sunday in Kano by the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 3 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Maj. Zubairu Babatunde, said the bandits launched the attacks on the night of Thursday extending into the early hours of Friday.
No fewer than thirty persons have been k!lled in a deadly attack by suspected terrorists at the Kasuwan-Daji market in the Demo community, located in the Borgu Local Government Area of Niger state on Saturday, January 3.
The gun-wielding attackers who abducted a number of persons, also carted away foodstuffs and other valuables worth millions of naira before setting the market ablaze.
The terrorists were said to have invaded the community on Saturday evening and operated until the early hours of Sunday.
A resident of the area who confirmed the incident, said about 42 people were tied and k!lled by the terrorists, who operated without resistance. The terrorists were said to have emerged from the National Park in Borgu LGA and launched the attack in broad daylight.
Confirming the incident to newsmen, the spokesperson of the Niger State Police, Wasiu Abiodun, said over 30 people lost their lives, while several others were kidnapped.
“On 03/01/2026 at about 9 pm, information received revealed that at about 4:30 pm of the same date, suspected bandits from the National Park forest along Kabe District invaded Kasuwan-Daji, located at Demo Village via Kabe, and burnt the market, looted shops, and carted away food items.
On 04/01/2026 at about 8 am, a report indicated that a joint security team visited the scene, and over 30 victims lost their lives during the attack. Some persons were also kidnapped. Efforts are ongoing to rescue the kidnapped victims. Further developments will be communicated,” Abiodun said in a statement.
