President Bola Tinubu has directed security and intelligence agencies to step up operations aimed at securing the immediate release of people abducted during an attack on a mosque in Niger State.

The directive covers the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and other relevant security agencies, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

The order follows the reported killing and abduction of worshippers by criminal elements in the state. President Tinubu expressed outrage over the incident and described the attackers as enemies of peace and humanity.

The President also sympathised with families who lost loved ones in the attack, assuring them that the government was committed to bringing those still in captivity back home. He said the affected families should not feel abandoned in the aftermath of the incident.

As part of the response, Tinubu directed the Service Chiefs to provide him with regular updates on the rescue operation. The briefings are to continue until everyone taken during the attack has been accounted for.

The President further stressed the responsibility of the security agencies to protect communities and defend citizens from violent attacks. His directive places immediate priority on the rescue effort while also reinforcing the need to safeguard human life.

The development comes amid continuing security concerns in parts of the country, with the Niger incident putting renewed focus on the protection of communities and places of worship. The Federal Government says the perpetrators will be pursued and brought to account.