Tinubu hails “largest same-day rescue” as 308 abductees freed in Kwara, Niger
President Bola Tinubu
Abdullateef Fowewe
President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the rescue of 308 kidnapped Nigerians from Kwara and Niger states, describing the operation as the country’s largest same-day recovery of abductees and a sign of improved coordination among security agencies.
The freed victims include 163 people abducted in a February attack on the Woro community in Kwara State and 145 others taken from Niger State.
According to the presidency, all 308 were retrieved from the forested areas of Kainji Lake National Park in Niger State through an intelligence-led operation involving the military, police, Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
In a statement shared via his social media handle on Thursday, Tinubu said, “I welcome the rescue of 308 citizens abducted in Kwara and Niger States.”
He added, “I commend our security agencies for the intelligence, courage and coordination that made this operation possible.”
The president framed the rescue as evidence that inter-agency collaboration is beginning to yield results, while stressing that more work remains to prevent future kidnappings.
“I have directed them to strengthen early-warning systems, deepen community intelligence and improve rapid response across the country,” he said.
Tinubu also issued a blunt warning to insurgents and criminal gangs behind the abductions, “We will continue to pursue those who threaten our people and do everything necessary to keep every Nigerian community safe. There will be no hiding place for terrorists in Nigeria.”
He concluded with an assurance that “Nigeria will succeed.”
The rescue comes amid a surge in kidnapping incidents across Nigeria’s north-central region, where bandit groups have increasingly targeted rural communities, schools, and travellers.
Security forces have launched several operations in recent months to clear criminal hideouts in forests and national parks, but attackers often return after troops withdraw, underscoring the challenge of sustaining gains without stronger local intelligence and faster response times.
