“Hunt Them Down” — Tinubu Unleashes Military, Police, DSS After Bloody Niger Market Attack

President Bola Tinubu issued stern directives Sunday to top security officials to pursue and capture militants responsible for a deadly assault in the northern state of Niger, vowing to hold all accomplices accountable amid a surge in regional violence.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the president 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 spearhead the hunt for those responsible. “These terrorists have tested the resolve of our country and its people. They must, therefore, face the full consequences of their criminal actions,” Tinubu said. “No matter who they are or what their intent is, they must be hunted down.”

The directive follows reports that gunmen believed to be terrorists stormed the Kasuwan Daji community in Borgu Local Government Area, killing at least 30 villagers, abducting others and burning market stalls and goods in a weekend assault. The attackers were said to have operated into the early hours before security reinforcements arrived.

Tinubu also ordered security agencies to “rescue all the abducted victims urgently” and to intensify operations around vulnerable communities, particularly near forested areas believed to serve as hideouts for criminal elements.

Expressing his condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Niger State, the president added that anyone aiding or abetting the terrorists would also be brought to justice, underscoring a zero‑tolerance approach to terror and banditry.

Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain united against insurgency and warned against divisive rhetoric that could undermine national cohesion. “These times demand our humanity. We must stand together as one people and confront these monsters in unison,” he said, calling for collective resolve to reclaim peace in affected areas.