Nigerian President Bola Tinubu ordered the military and ​other security agencies on Tuesday to launch an immediate rescue operation after scores of people were kidnapped by gunmen in north-central ‌Niger State last week. An armed group posted a video on Facebook and WhatsApp showing what residents said were about 600 women, children and older people abducted during an attack on a mosque in the state. Reuters could not independently verify the figure, but if confirmed it would rank among Nigeria’s largest and most audacious mass kidnappings in recent years. The ​incident highlights Nigeria’s inability to protect swathes of the country where an array of armed groups operate. Any effort to rescue ​the hostages would be complicated by the gunmen’s knowledge of the remote border areas and ability to hide in ⁠the thick bush.

Full report : Nigeria’s president orders rescue after mass kidnapping exposes security failings.