President Bola Tinubu has ordered an immediate crackdown on gunmen responsible for deadly attacks in Kaduna and Plateau states, directing security and intelligence agencies to intensify operations, act on early warnings, and rescue all abducted victims.The directive came after gunmen killed residents and abducted wedding guests in Kahir village, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, and carried out a separate massacre in Angwan Rukuba district, Jos, Plateau State.
Condemnation Of “Barbaric And Cowardly” Attacks
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu condemned the attacks as “barbaric and cowardly” and “an affront to all that Nigeria stands for”.
According to reports, the Kahir village attack occurred on Sunday night during a wedding ceremony, leaving about 13 persons dead and another 28 abducted. In Plateau, marauders attacked Angwan Rukuba, Jos North, killing almost 30 persons and leaving several others critically injured.
“Anyone who will sneak under the cover of the night and kill defenceless citizens as done in Jos and Kahir village, is a heartless coward,” Tinubu said. He warned that the objective of attacking soft targets was “not only to cause harm but also trigger a spiral of reprisal attacks and further bloodletting“.
Emergency Security Directives Issued
The President gave specific orders to security agencies following the incidents. Intensified manhunt and rescue operations Tinubu directed the Armed Forces, police, and relevant intelligence agencies to “intensify operations across the affected areas to track down the perpetrators swiftly, secure the release of abducted individuals, and restore normalcy to the region“.
He specifically said: “All the remaining abductees from Kahir village must be rescued immediately“.
Proactive intelligence gathering
The President urged security agencies to “be more proactive in preventing these attacks by acting on early warning intelligence”. He charged them to “act decisively on intelligence to prevent future attacks“.
Clampdown on misinformation
Tinubu also directed security agencies to pursue “those spreading misinformation that can inflame tensions and further endanger lives”. He cautioned sections of the media against insinuating the attacks were religiously motivated, warning that such narratives are “dangerous and could further inflame the situation“.
Federal Support And Community Cooperation
The President commended Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani for “supporting the rescue and containment efforts” and Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang for his response in Jos. He assured both states of federal support.
Tinubu stressed that public cooperation is vital. He urged communities to “comply with evacuation, relocation, and related advice and processes” and to “cooperate with security forces by providing actionable intelligence that would help early response efforts“.
He also hailed the safe return of two of the Kaduna victims.
Strengthening Security Infrastructure
Beyond immediate response, Tinubu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to equipping security agencies.”Our government is currently acquiring more sophisticated equipment to enable our security agencies to track and smash criminals, in real time, wherever they are”.
He said the administration has “an unwavering commitment to strengthening security infrastructure, equipping response personnel, and neutralising criminal networks attempting to disrupt the peace of the nation“.
The President also noted that the attacks were designed to “incite retaliatory violence and deepen instability”, and vowed that “those responsible will not go unpunished”.
Latest Kaduna Incident: Naridon Village Massacre
In a more recent statement, Tinubu also condemned a midnight massacre in Naridon Village, Kamaru Ward of Kauru LGA, Kaduna State, where gunmen killed at least 30 residents, including eight children.
Survivors said attackers invaded around 11 pm on Sunday, firing indiscriminately and setting homes and shops ablaze. The President again directed security agencies to intensify operations to track the perpetrators.
With security agencies now under direct orders to act on intelligence and rescue captives, attention will be on how quickly the remaining Kahir abductees are freed and how authorities prevent reprisals in both Kaduna and Plateau communities.
Tinubu’s message was clear: the attacks will not define Nigeria’s response. Instead, he called for unity, vigilance, and decisive security action to restore peace to affected areas.
