In response to a disturbing video circulating on social media, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ordered a manhunt for armed kidnappers responsible for a deadly attack on four remote villages in Niger state last Friday. The assault targeted several mosques during prayers, potentially abducting upwards of 500 individuals, though this number remains unverified. The assailants, dressed in military-style clothing, attacked the villages of Dekara, Gidan Zana, Sabon Gida, and Masaka, leaving more than 40 people dead according to police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun. The video shows dozens of men, women, and children sitting in a forest, with several individuals identified by a local youth leader as belonging to his community. The authorities initially suspected the attackers were bandits, but no ransom demands have been reported so far. Fearing for their safety, many residents have fled their homes, seeking refuge in neighboring states or across the border in Benin. Improvised explosive devices were also discovered and detonated by attackers in parts of the affected communities, leading to casualties among survivors receiving hospital treatment. President Tinubu has condemned the attacks and vowed that those responsible will be brought to justice. The attack is a concerning sign of worsening insecurity in the Borgu area, which borders Kebbi and Kwara states as well as neighboring Benin. Local officials have raised concerns about the growing presence of jihadist groups operating in north-western Nigeria and along the border region. This incident follows the rescue of 145 abducted individuals from four other villages earlier this month, highlighting the escalating violence in the area.