Nigeria rescues 308 kidnapping victims in Kwara and Niger states

On August 5, 2026, Nigerian security forces freed 308 people abducted in separate attacks on Kwara and Niger states. The operation, described as the largest same‑day rescue by the joint security team, recovered 163 victims from the Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area, Kwara State, and 145 from Niger State. All were liberated from the Kainji Lake National Park forest in New Bussa Local Government Area after an intelligence‑led mission coordinated by the National Counter‑Terrorism Centre (NCTC) with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu praised the agencies for their “bravery and unwavering commitment” and ordered the strengthening of early‑warning mechanisms, community‑level intelligence gathering and rapid‑response capabilities to prevent future abductions. The rescued individuals received first‑aid and medical care at a facility in Wawa Cantonment before being handed over to the governments of Kwara and Niger states for reunification with their families.

Earlier the same day, the Kwara State Government announced the release of 176 residents who had been held captive since a February 3 attack on the Woro and Nuku communities. The statement credited President Tinubu and security forces for the breakthrough, though details of the operation remain undisclosed.