Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has ordered security agencies to ensure attackers who killed locals at a market in the state of Niger over the weekend to be arrested and prosecuted.
The official death toll from the attack on the Kasuwan-Daji village over the weekend is at 30, but locals say at least 40 people have died.
A statement signed by Tinubu directs Nigeria’s Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff, among other Senior government officials, to track down those behind the attack on the weekend.
Tinubu said the terrorists have tested the resolve of the country and its people and must be made to face the consequences of their actions.
The terrorists attacked the Kasuwan Daji market in the Niger state around 4pm local time on Saturday.
Locals in the area said the terrorists were heavily armed and carted away food items, after setting the market ablaze. They also abducted an unspecified number of locals.
Niger state, located in Nigeria’s north central region has seen an uptick in recent attacks by armed groups, who kill and kidnap people for ransom payments.
In July, over 30 people were kidnapped in the state, and families paid $35 000 for their return.
In November, over 200 students were abducted from their school in the Papiri area of the state but were later rescued.
Police authorities say a joint security team has visited the area and are prioritising rescue operations.
–SABC–
