\n\nIn what has been described as Nigeria’s largest single-day rescue operation, President Bola Tinubu has announced the successful rescue of 308 people who had been abducted by armed groups across northern Nigeria.
According to the Presidency, the victims were freed during a coordinated intelligence-led operation carried out by the Nigerian military, police, and other security agencies. Among those rescued were 163 residents abducted from Woro community in Kwara State earlier this year, alongside 145 other victims, mainly from neighbouring Niger State.
The rescued individuals have since been taken to secure medical facilities where they are receiving treatment, counselling, and other forms of support before being reunited with their families.
President Tinubu praised the courage and professionalism of the security personnel involved in the operation, describing the rescue as a major breakthrough in the government’s ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and banditry. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening security operations, dismantling criminal networks, and ensuring that Nigerians can live without fear.
Kidnapping for ransom remains one of Nigeria’s biggest security challenges, particularly across the North-West and North-Central regions, where criminal gangs have repeatedly targeted communities, schools, and highways. The latest rescue is being seen as a significant morale booster for security agencies and a source of hope for families whose loved ones remain in captivity.
Security experts have, however, stressed that while the rescue is commendable, sustained intelligence gathering, improved surveillance, and stronger community policing will be necessary to permanently curb the activities of kidnappers and other criminal groups operating across the country.
