By Ene Rebecca
August 6, 2026
A joint security team comprising the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force and the National Counter-Terrorism Centre has freed 308 people who were abducted in separate attacks in Niger and Kwara states.
The victims were rescued from the Kainji Lake National Park forest in New Bussa Local Government Area of Niger State following a coordinated, intelligence-driven operation. Of those freed, 163 had been taken from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State during a February 2026 attack, while 145 others were abducted in Niger State.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed the successful rescue, describing it as the largest same-day operation ever carried out by a joint security team in the country. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President expressed appreciation for the bravery, professionalism and inter-agency collaboration that made the recovery possible.
The rescued citizens are currently receiving medical attention at a facility in Wawa Cantonment. After medical evaluations, they will be handed over to their respective state governments for further care and reunification with their families.
The operation underscores ongoing efforts by Nigerian security agencies to address the persistent challenge of mass abductions, particularly in the north-central region.
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