Bago Faults Borgu Attack, Orders Security Agencies To Rescue Abducted Worshippers

According to the government, the attackers stormed the Kpenya Mosque during Juma’at prayers and abducted an unspecified number of worshippers, while others reportedly escaped into surrounding areas.
Already, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago had expressed deep concern over the incident and directed relevant authorities to work closely with security agencies to ensure the rescue of the abducted persons and restore normalcy to the affected communities.

Bago, further reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of Niger State residents, noting that the government would not relent in its efforts to prevent criminal elements from undermining peace across the state.

The government also, said a joint security operation had been mobilised to the affected area to assess the situation, track the perpetrators and facilitate the rescue of the abducted persons, pointing out that, due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing operation, details of the movement and deployment of security personnel would not be disclosed.
The state government further acknowledged that the exact number of persons abducted and other details surrounding the incident were still being verified and then urged residents, particularly those in the affected communities, to refrain from circulating rumours, casualty figures and speculative accounts capable of heightening public anxiety or compromising ongoing security operations.
Bago commended the courage and resilience of the people of Borgu, assuring residents that the security and safety of Nigerlites remained the topmost priority of his administration, even as government was strengthening collaboration with traditional institutions, community leaders and security agencies to improve intelligence gathering, early warning mechanisms and community-based security coordination, particularly in vulnerable communities.
He then appealed to residents to remain vigilant and promptly provide security agencies with credible information that could assist the ongoing operations, as well as avoid unnecessary movement into areas identified as security-sensitive until the situation was brought under control.