The Nigerian government has announced the rescue of 308 people who were kidnapped in separate attacks, describing the operation as the country’s largest single-day hostage rescue.
According to AFP, citing the Nigerian presidency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed the successful rescue of 308 abductees, including 163 people kidnapped from Woro village in Kwara State and another 145 victims taken in neighbouring Niger State.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the victims were rescued from a hideout inside the Kainji Lake National Park forest during a coordinated operation involving the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, the military, intelligence services and the police.
Authorities said the rescue followed months of security operations targeting criminal and militant groups operating in forested areas that have become strongholds for kidnappers.
The Woro attack in February was one of the deadliest incidents in the region this year. Armed militants stormed the village, killing scores of residents and abducting dozens more after an earlier warning to the community, according to previous reports.
Kidnapping for ransom has become one of Nigeria’s most serious security challenges, particularly in the country’s northern and central regions, where armed gangs and militant groups frequently target villages, travellers and schools.
President Tinubu praised the security agencies involved in the operation and reiterated his government’s commitment to combating terrorism, banditry and organised crime across the country.
The rescue comes as Nigeria continues to face widespread insecurity. Over the weekend, gunmen reportedly abducted at least 52 people, including children, during another attack in Zamfara State, underscoring the persistent threat posed by armed groups despite ongoing military operations.
