Nigeria launches operation to rescue kidnapped mosque worshippers

Abuja – With national elections scheduled for January, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced a renewed security drive aimed at curbing the surge in kidnappings that has plagued northern Nigeria over the past year. In a televised address on Tuesday, Tinubu ordered the federal and state security agencies to intensify joint operations, increase patrols along vulnerable routes, and expedite the release of hostages through coordinated negotiations and, where necessary, decisive force. He also directed the Ministry of Interior to allocate additional resources to the Special Anti‑Kidnapping Task Force, which will work alongside the Nigerian Army, police, and local vigilante groups to dismantle kidnapping networks operating in states such as Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger.

The president’s crackdown comes amid heightened public anxiety as the electoral calendar approaches, with opposition parties and civil‑society groups warning that kidnapping incidents could disrupt voter turnout and undermine the credibility of the poll. Government officials cited recent data showing a 27 percent rise in abductions between July 2023 and June 2024, attributing the trend to porous borders, inadequate intelligence sharing, and the proliferation of armed criminal cells. Tinubu pledged that the intensified measures will be monitored by an inter‑agency task force reporting directly to the presidency, and he urged communities to cooperate with authorities to provide timely information. The administration hopes that a demonstrable reduction in kidnappings before the January vote will bolster confidence in the electoral process and improve overall security in the region.