The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has ordered an immediate intensification of operations to secure the safe release of worshippers abducted during a recent attack in the Dekara District of Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State.
​IGP Disu issued the directive on Saturday, August 29, 2026, during a high-level working visit to Minna, the Niger State capital, to assess the security situation and evaluate ongoing rescue efforts following the mass abduction that occurred on Friday, August 21, 2026.
​The terror attack unfolded around 2:00 PM on August 21 as worshippers concluded Friday Juma’at prayers. Heavily armed men invaded Kpenya Mosque and surrounding communities, including Gidan Zana, Sabon Gida, and Masata, abducting an unspecified number of residents. Security experts and local sources suspect the attack was carried out by members of the Lakurawa and Boko Haram terrorist groups.
​During his visit to the Niger State Government House in Minna, IGP Disu was received by Deputy Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba, who represented Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, alongside the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Barrister Maurice Bello Magaji.
​According to a statement issued on Saturday by Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the IGP conveyed the condolences of the Nigeria Police Force to the state government and affected families. Disu assured them that the safe recovery of all hostages remains the top priority of the police force.
​”The safe recovery of the abducted persons and the arrest of those responsible remain the primary focus of our ongoing operations,” Disu stated, charging officers to sustain intelligence-led operations while prioritizing the safety of victims.
​As part of the security push, the IGP announced the deployment of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) for Zone 7, Victor Olaya, to personally oversee operational strategies in the state. The deployment is supported by tactical assets, including the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Tactical Teams, and the Police Air Wing, working alongside joint security forces and local intelligence networks.
​Speaking on behalf of the command’s operational readiness, the Niger State Commissioner of Police, CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, represented in previous security updates by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun reiterated that officers remain resolute, despite the state’s extensive landmass and challenging terrain.
​Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba commended IGP Disu for his hands-on assessment of the situation. He reaffirmed the Niger State Government’s commitment to supporting security agencies with operational mobility and logistics to flush out criminal elements and ensure the prompt return of all victims.
