President Tinubu Orders Relentless Hunt for Kasuwan Daji Killers, Says “No Hiding Place”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a full-scale security operation to track down and apprehend the terrorists responsible for the deadly attack on Kasuwan Daji community in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State. The directive follows the brutal raid on a local market in Demo village, where armed attackers killed more than 30 civilians, including women, abducted several others, and razed the market after looting foodstuffs and valuables worth millions of naira.

The President issued the order on Sunday, January 4, instructing Nigeria’s top security leadership to act decisively and without delay. The attack, which reportedly lasted for hours, was carried out by armed men described locally as bandits who emerged from forest hideouts linked to the Kainji Lake National Park, raising fresh concerns about the use of protected forest areas as sanctuaries for criminal networks.

The incident has sent shockwaves across Niger State and beyond, once again highlighting the persistent security challenges facing rural and forest-bordering communities. Residents described the assault as coordinated and devastating, noting that the attackers operated with little resistance in the early stages, leaving a trail of death, destruction, and displacement.

President Tinubu Condemns Attack, Directs Security Chiefs to Act

President Tinubu strongly condemned the attack, describing it as “barbaric” and an unacceptable assault on innocent Nigerians. In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the President expressed deep sympathy with the families of the victims, as well as the government and people of Niger State, assuring them of the Federal Government’s full support.

President Tinubu warned that the attackers had crossed a red line by testing the resolve of the Nigerian state and its people. He declared that the perpetrators, along with anyone found to be aiding, abetting, or enabling them in any form, would face the full weight of the law. According to the statement, no individual or group involved in the atrocity would be spared, regardless of their location or backing.

To this end, President Tinubu directed the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, all Service Chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to immediately launch an intensified manhunt. He also ordered the urgent rescue of all abducted victims, many of whom are believed to be women and children.

Security Operations Intensified, Call for Unity Issued

President Tinubu further assured residents of Niger State that security operations would be scaled up, particularly in vulnerable communities bordering forests that have long served as hideouts for terrorists and bandits. He emphasized that the Federal Government would deny criminal elements any sanctuary and restore peace to affected areas through sustained and coordinated operations.

Beyond military and police action, President Tinubu called for national unity, urging Nigerians to avoid divisive rhetoric or actions that could undermine collective efforts to defeat terrorism and banditry. He stressed that the fight against insecurity requires a shared sense of purpose and humanity, especially at moments of national grief.

Meanwhile, Niger State Police Command spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the casualties from the Kasuwan Daji attack and disclosed that joint security teams had visited the affected community. Rescue operations are ongoing, as authorities work to locate abducted persons and prevent further attacks. The President’s decisive intervention comes amid Nigeria’s broader struggle with banditry, insurgency, and transnational security threats, reinforcing the administration’s stance that violence against civilians will not go unanswered.