President Bola Tinubu has ordered the nation’s security chiefs to apprehend those responsible for a deadly attack in Niger State.

He mandated 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 track down the perpetrators of the assault on Kasuwan Daji community. The Niger State Police Command confirmed the attack on Sunday.

The President’s directive, communicated in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday, also includes the urgent rescue of all abducted victims. He condemned the killings, which left over 30 people dead, and the abduction of women and children, offering his condolences to the families of the victims and the people of Niger State.

The attack occurred on Saturday at the Kasuwan Daji market in the Demo community, Borgu Local Government Area. Suspected terrorists, reportedly fleeing military operations in Sokoto and Zamfara states, invaded the community, operating from evening until the early hours of Sunday. According to residents, the gunmen killed dozens, set the market ablaze, and carted away foodstuffs and valuables worth millions of naira.

In his statement, President Tinubu vowed that the attackers would face the full consequences of their 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 declared.

He assured that security agencies had been mandated to intensify operations around vulnerable communities, particularly those near forest hideouts. Urging national unity, the President cautioned against divisive rhetoric, stating, “These times demand our humanity. We must stand together as one people and confront these monsters in unison.”