Nigerian security forces rescue over 300 kidnapping victims

Nigerian security forces have successfully rescued more than 300 individuals who had been abducted in separate incidents, marking a significant operation against the country's escalating kidnapping crisis.

The rescued group includes 163 people taken from the village of Woro in Kwara state earlier this year, and 145 from Niger State. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu "warmly welcomes the successful rescue." The victims were found in the Kainji Lake National Park Forest, a known hideout for criminal groups.

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu warmly welcomes the successful rescue of 308 Nigerian citizens who were abducted in different attacks in Niger and Kwara states.

Officials described the operation as "the largest rescue operation ever carried out" in a single day, involving a coordinated effort by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, the military, the Department of State Services intelligence agency, and the police. This success comes amid a persistent challenge of kidnappings for ransom, which has become a major crisis, particularly in northern and central Nigeria where state presence is minimal.

In February, suspected jihadists attacked Woro, reportedly killing over 165 people and kidnapping an unknown number. The attack, which residents attributed to retaliation after their invitation to preach was ignored, left much of the village in ruins. Abductions have proven to be a lucrative criminal enterprise in Nigeria, with ransom payments estimated to have raised approximately $1.66 million between July 2024 and June 2025.

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the largest rescue operation ever carried out