Nigeria: Tinubu Applauds Rescue of 308 Kwara, Niger Kidnap Victims

What the report says

President Bola Tinubu praised the rescue of 308 people abducted in separate attacks in Kwara and Niger states, according to Leadership’s report distributed by AllAfrica. The operation took place in August 2026 and involved a coordinated, intelligence-led effort by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, the armed forces, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force.

The article said 163 of those freed were taken from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, while 145 others were kidnapped in Niger State. All were recovered from the Kainji Lake National Park forest area in New Bussa Local Government Area of Niger State. Tinubu’s office described the operation as a sign of better cooperation among security agencies and said the rescued people were receiving medical attention before being handed to their state governments.

Leadership also reported that the rescue was described as the largest single-day recovery by the joint security team. Local officials and relatives of the victims welcomed the development, saying the release ended a long period of fear and uncertainty. The Woro victims had been held since an attack in February 2026, which local accounts linked to violence in border communities. The report said the president also ordered stronger early-warning systems, community intelligence and faster response measures to help prevent similar kidnappings.