ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s Presidency has announced the successful rescue of 308 abducted citizens during a coordinated security operation in the Kainji Lake National Park forest, marking one of the country’s largest recent hostage recovery efforts.
According to the Presidency, the operation resulted in the rescue of 163 people who had been abducted in Kwara State and 145 others taken from neighboring Niger State. The victims were recovered through a joint operation involving multiple national security agencies.
The rescue mission was coordinated by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force. Officials said the operation reflected the importance of inter-agency cooperation in addressing kidnapping and other security threats affecting communities across the country.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended the security agencies for their coordinated efforts and the successful rescue of the abducted victims. He also directed security institutions to strengthen measures aimed at preventing future kidnappings and improving public safety.
According to the Presidency, the President instructed security agencies to enhance early-warning systems, expand community-based intelligence gathering, and improve rapid-response capabilities to ensure faster intervention when security threats emerge. The directives are intended to improve the country’s ability to detect and disrupt criminal activities before attacks occur.
Kidnapping for ransom remains one of Nigeria’s most pressing security challenges, particularly in rural and forested areas where armed criminal groups have carried out attacks on communities, travelers, and schools. Kainji Lake National Park and surrounding forest areas have previously been identified as locations where criminal elements have established hideouts due to the difficult terrain.
The latest rescue operation highlights the Nigerian government’s continued efforts to improve cooperation among security agencies in combating kidnapping, terrorism, and organized crime. Officials said strengthening intelligence-sharing and operational coordination will remain a priority as authorities seek to improve security across affected regions.
The Presidency reaffirmed its commitment to protecting citizens and restoring public confidence in the country’s security architecture, emphasizing that continued collaboration among federal security agencies will be essential in addressing evolving security threats and safeguarding vulnerable communities.