The Niger State Government says it has not received any message or demand from the terrorists who abducted worshippers in Borgu Local Government Area last Friday.
The state Commissioner for Information, Obed Nuhu, disclosed this on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
Nuhu said the attack occurred in three different locations and was suspected to have been carried out by the Lakurawa and Boko Haram groups.
“No such (contact with the kidnappers) has happened. We have not had any interactions with them but the suspicion is the Lakurawas as they call themselves and the Boko Haram. It happened in three different locations around that kingdom,” he said.
The commissioner also said the government was yet to establish the exact number of people abducted.
He explained that officials were still gathering information and would not provide figures until they had been properly verified.
Following the attack, Niger State Governor Umaru Bago directed security agencies to work towards rescuing the victims and restoring peace in the affected communities.
The state government said a joint security operation had been launched to assess the situation, track the attackers and rescue those taken away.
It said details of the security operation would not be disclosed because of the sensitive nature of the mission.
President Bola Tinubu has also ordered security and intelligence agencies to begin an immediate and coordinated operation to rescue the abducted worshippers.
The President gave the directive to the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and other relevant agencies, according to a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.
No contact yet with abductors of Niger worshippers – Commissioner