Northern Governors Rally Behind Tinubu’s Order To Track Down Niger Market Attackers

The forum strongly condemned the incident, which claimed the lives of more than 30 people in the Demo community of Borgu Local Government Area, describing it as a heartless assault on innocent citizens and a serious threat to peace and economic stability in the region.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the forum’s chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the northern governors expressed deep shock and anger over the attack, noting that it had plunged families into mourning, disrupted livelihoods, and shattered the calm of previously peaceful communities.

Governor Yahaya described the targeting of traders, market women, and residents engaged in lawful activities as morally reprehensible, stressing that such acts undermine communal harmony and regional economic life. The statement, signed by the Director-General of Press Affairs at the Government House, Ismaila Misillim, called on security agencies to intensify efforts to track down and apprehend the perpetrators.

The forum insisted that those behind the massacre must be brought to justice to serve as a strong deterrent against future attacks. It also extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the Niger State Government, and affected communities, while offering prayers for the repose of the deceased and the safe rescue of those abducted during the incident.

President Tinubu had earlier directed the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to ensure the perpetrators are relentlessly pursued. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President vowed that those responsible would face the full weight of the law, declaring that no individual or group involved in the attack would escape justice.

The President further ordered security agencies to prioritise the immediate rescue of all abducted victims. The attack reportedly occurred on Saturday evening when gunmen stormed the Kasuwan-Daji market and operated for several hours, abducting residents, looting foodstuffs and valuables worth millions of naira, and setting parts of the market on fire. The Niger State Police Command later confirmed the incident.

Meanwhile, the Northern Governors also mourned victims of a separate tragedy in Yobe State, where a boat accident claimed at least 25 lives, with several others still missing. Governor Yahaya described the incident as a painful reminder of the need to improve safety measures across all modes of transportation, urging authorities to intensify rescue efforts and review safety protocols to prevent future occurrences.

The forum appealed to residents across the North to remain calm, united, and compassionate during this difficult period, reaffirming its commitment to working closely with federal authorities and security agencies to address insecurity, strengthen emergency response systems, and support affected communities.