Nigerian Security Forces Free 308 Abductees in Landmark Operation

The Nigerian presidency announced that joint military, police, intelligence services and the National Counter‑Terrorism Centre lifted the terror from the lives of 308 kidnapped citizens in a coordinated rescue that has been hailed as the largest single‑day operation in the country’s history.

The victims were extracted from the Kainji Lake National Park in Niger State, where 145 people had been held. The other 163 were rescued from the village of Woro in Kwara State following a brutal February assault that left dozens dead.

While the rescued men, women and children received medical treatment at a military base, it remains unclear whether any of the perpetrators were captured during the sweep. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu lauded the success as evidence of improved coordination among Nigeria’s security agencies.

The abductions, linked to jihadist groups, have amplified concerns that insecurity is spreading beyond the traditional conflict zones of the north. Amnesty International reported that many massacre victims were found bound, with throats slit or shot, underscoring the severity of the crimes.

The rescue follows a separate operation that freed 44 pupils and teachers long held by a militant group after a month‑long siege.