Nigeria rescues 308 kidnapping victims in largest single‑day operation

Nigeria rescue kidnapping victims Kainji Lake National Park Woro community Bola Tinubu

Nigerian security forces freed 308 people abducted in attacks on communities in Kwara and Niger states. The operation, described by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the largest same‑day rescue ever carried out by the joint security team, was coordinated by the National Counter‑Terrorism Centre and involved the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force.

According to the presidential statement, 163 of those rescued had been taken from the Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, while 145 were abducted from locations in Niger State. All victims were liberated from the forest of Kainji Lake National Park in New Bussa Local Government Area, Niger State, and are now receiving medical care at the Wawa Cantonment facility. President Tinubu praised the agencies’ collaboration and ordered the strengthening of early‑warning mechanisms, community‑level intelligence gathering and rapid‑response capabilities to prevent future kidnappings.

Entities

Aliyu Umar · Armed Forces of Nigeria · Bayo Onanuga · Boko Haram · Bola Ahmed Tinubu · Department of State Services · Department of State Services (DSS) · Dr Abdul Ibrahim · Kainji Lake National Park · Kwara State Government · National Counter Terrorism Centre · National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC)

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 26 SOURCES] The operation was coordinated by the National Counter‑Terrorism Centre and involved the Armed Forces, DSS and Nigeria Police Force. gwg.ng · dominicanrepublicpost.com · barbadosgazette.com · newscentraltv.com · prnigeria.com · +15 more
[● 24 SOURCES] President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described the rescue as the largest same‑day operation by a joint security team. gwg.ng · dominicanrepublicpost.com · barbadosgazette.com · newscentraltv.com · prnigeria.com · +15 more
[● 27 SOURCES] The victims were freed from Kainji Lake National Park forest in New Bussa LGA, Niger State. gwg.ng · dominicanrepublicpost.com · barbadosgazette.com · newscentraltv.com · prnigeria.com · +16 more
[● 21 SOURCES] The February 3 2026 attack on Woro and Nuku killed more than 200 people and abducted 176 residents. gwg.ng · dominicanrepublicpost.com · barbadosgazette.com · newscentraltv.com · prnigeria.com · +14 more
[DISPUTED] 145 of the rescued were abducted from Niger State. gwg.ng · dominicanrepublicpost.com · barbadosgazette.com · newscentraltv.com · prnigeria.com · +18 more
[DISPUTED] 163 of the rescued were abducted from Woro community in Kaiama LGA, Kwara State. gwg.ng · dominicanrepublicpost.com · barbadosgazette.com · newscentraltv.com · prnigeria.com · +17 more
[● 13 SOURCES] 308 abducted Nigerians were rescued in a coordinated operation. gwg.ng · dominicanrepublicpost.com · barbadosgazette.com · newscentraltv.com · prnigeria.com · +3 more
[● 27 SOURCES] President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered stronger early‑warning, community intelligence and rapid‑response systems. gwg.ng · dominicanrepublicpost.com · barbadosgazette.com · newscentraltv.com · prnigeria.com · +16 more
[● 22 SOURCES] The operation was coordinated by the National Counter‑Terrorism Centre and involved the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force. gwg.ng · dominicanrepublicpost.com · barbadosgazette.com · newscentraltv.com · prnigeria.com · +12 more
[● 9 SOURCES] 163 of the rescued victims were abducted from Woro Community in Kaiama Local Government Area, Kwara State. gwg.ng · dominicanrepublicpost.com · barbadosgazette.com · newscentraltv.com · prnigeria.com · +1 more
[● 21 SOURCES] 308 abducted Nigerians were rescued in Nigeria. gwg.ng · dominicanrepublicpost.com · barbadosgazette.com · newscentraltv.com · prnigeria.com · +13 more
[● 8 SOURCES] The February 3 2026 attack on Woro and Nuku communities killed more than 200 people and abducted 176 residents. dailyreport.ng · gwg.ng · dominicanrepublicpost.com · barbadosgazette.com · newscentraltv.com · +2 more