‘We Will Kidnap President Tinubu, Governors, Top Military Officers In Days Ahead’ – Terrorist Leader Issues Alarming Threats, Boasts About Abductions In Kebbi, Niger

Nigeria’s worsening security crisis took a disturbing turn as an alleged terrorist commander released a chilling video vowing that his group will soon begin abducting top government officials, including military officers, state governors, and even President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

 

The militant, whose identity has not yet been independently verified, made the threats while boasting about recent kidnappings of schoolchildren in Niger and Kebbi states.

 

In the video obtained by SaharaReporters, the gunman appeared dressed in what looked like an official Nigerian military jacket, a symbolic gesture seemingly intended to mock the nation’s security apparatus. Holding a rifle and speaking defiantly, he dismissed the recent arrests of suspected militants by security agencies, insisting that his group remains fully capable of launching increasingly brazen attacks across the country.

 

“Everyone has woken up. We kidnapped school students in Kebbi State and Niger State,” he said. “Next time, we will be kidnapping Nigerian military officers and taking them to the forest.”

 

Drawing attention to the military uniform he wore, he continued with a bold assertion: “Look at the clothes I’m wearing — they belong to a soldier. Nigeria, in the days ahead, we will kidnap a governor, we will kidnap the President, and others.”

 

His claims come at a time when citizens across multiple states have expressed rising fear over the escalating rate of kidnappings targeting schools, rural communities, clerics, and travelers. The threat to abduct the sitting President of Nigeria marks one of the most extreme public declarations made by any terrorist group in recent years, heightening concerns over the capability and reach of armed groups operating in the North-West and North-Central regions.

 

“Government Cannot Protect You” — Terrorist Claims

 

Beyond the threats, the militant delivered a provocative message to Nigerians, asserting that the government had failed and that people must rely solely on divine intervention.

 

“We are not concerned that they have arrested anyone. The government cannot secure you,” he said. “You people should return to God to protect you, answer your wishes, and wipe the tears from your eyes.”

 

He also took a sarcastic swipe at political leaders, saying, “No one among the big men can wipe your tears. We have woken up. I greet all of you on social media. Have a pleasant day.”

 

Security experts say the brazenness of the statement underscores the boldness of criminal groups and the growing erosion of public trust in state authorities.

 

Fresh Wave of Abductions in Niger and Kebbi

 

The video emerges amid new waves of mass kidnappings in Niger and Kebbi states, adding to the distress of communities already traumatized by years of repeated attacks.

 

On Friday, November 21, 2025, armed terrorists stormed St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting an unspecified number of students and teachers. The invasion, which took place between 2:00 am and 3:00 am, was described by multiple eyewitnesses as a “coordinated and heavily armed operation.”

 

Ahmed Abdullahi Rofia, Head of Disaster and Relief for Agwara Local Government, confirmed the incident, as did Bello Gidi, media aide to the Agwara LGA Chairman. Speaking to SaharaReporters, Gidi said:

 

“Yes, it’s true that bandits have kidnapped students and teachers at St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School, Papiri, Agwara LGA, Niger State.”

 

According to him, early reports from community members indicate the scale of the attack may be far larger than initially feared.

 

“The information reaching us is that they have kidnapped over 100 students and teachers. It is a mixed school with boys and girls,” he added.

 

Shocked and grieving parents reportedly gathered at the school premises after news of the abduction spread, with many calling for immediate government intervention to rescue the victims.

 

The Niger attack comes barely five days after another horrific incident in Kebbi State, where terrorists invaded the Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School, abducting about 25 female students. In that attack, at least one staff member was killed, and a school guard was seriously injured.

 

The Kebbi assault, which occurred around 5:52 am as the students were preparing for their morning routines, sent panic across the community. Eyewitnesses said the gunmen stormed the compound while firing sporadically, forcing students and teachers to flee in all directions. Many of the girls who attempted to hide were captured, while others managed to escape into surrounding bushes.

 

Community sources told SaharaReporters that the attackers arrived on motorcycles and operated for several minutes without any resistance from security forces.

 

Rising National Anxiety as Terror Groups Grow Bolder

 

The terrorist’s declaration that they plan to abduct governors and the President has triggered widespread reaction across social media, with many Nigerians expressing fear and frustration over what they describe as a deteriorating security environment.

 

Nigeria has witnessed a surge in school kidnappings since the 2014 abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls, with hundreds of students abducted in the past five years alone. The recent attacks in Kebbi and Niger add to a long list of similar incidents that have challenged both state and federal governments.

 

Security analysts warn that the latest video message is a clear propaganda tactic aimed at instilling fear, projecting strength, and undermining confidence in national security institutions. However, the audacity of the threats also raises urgent questions about the militants’ access to weapons, intelligence, and mobility.

 

Government Yet to Respond to New Threats

 

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigerian Presidency nor the country’s security agencies had issued an official reaction to the terrorist commander’s claims. It remains unclear whether the government considers the threat credible or simply a psychological warfare tactic.

 

What is clear, however, is that families of abducted students in Niger and Kebbi are desperately awaiting updates, hoping their loved ones will be rescued. Meanwhile, many Nigerians continue to call for a more aggressive and coordinated national security strategy to counter the expanding influence of terrorist networks.