Tinubu hails military as 308 Kwara, Niger abductees rescued

President Bola Tinubu has praised the military's successful operation to rescue 308 people abducted in separate attacks in Kwara and Niger states. He described the joint operation as the largest single-day rescue exercise by security agencies and called for immediate strengthening of early warning mechanisms to prevent future occurrences.

Of the rescued individuals, 163 were abducted from Woro Community in Kwara State, while 145 were taken in a separate attack in Niger State. The victims were freed from the Kainji Lake National Park Forest following a coordinated, intelligence-driven operation involving the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services, and the Police Force.

"The successful execution of this intelligence-led operation demonstrates the growing efficiency and collaboration among our security services. I commend our gallant men and women in uniform for their bravery and unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigerian lives," Tinubu said in a statement.

The rescued abductees are receiving medical care and will be formally handed over to their respective state governments for reunification with their families. Tinubu stressed the need to enhance the country’s security infrastructure, directing agencies to reinforce early warning systems, improve community-level intelligence gathering, and boost rapid response capabilities nationwide.

These mass abductions are part of a pattern in Nigeria's North-Central region, where armed groups exploit dense forests like the Kainji Lake National Park as hideouts. This incident follows the rescue of 39 schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State in early July after 56 days in captivity. The Kwara State Government indicated that sustained behind-the-scenes efforts and strategic cooperation were key to the rescue strategy.

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The successful execution of this intelligence-led operation demonstrates the growing efficiency and collaboration among our security services. I commend our gallant men and women in uniform for their bravery and unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigerian lives.