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President Bola Tinubu has celebrated the rescue of 308 abducted Nigerians from forests in Niger State, describing the operation as the largest single-day rescue mission ever conducted by Nigeria's joint security forces.
The President also directed security agencies to strengthen early warning systems, improve intelligence gathering and enhance rapid response mechanisms to prevent future kidnappings across the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said 163 of the rescued victims were abducted from Woro Community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, while another 145 victims were rescued from different locations in Niger State.
The statement explained that the victims were freed during a coordinated intelligence-led operation at the Kainji Lake National Park Forest in New Bussa Local Government Area of Niger State.
The operation was jointly carried out by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the Presidency, the rescue represents the largest number of kidnapped victims freed in a single day through a joint security operation in the country's history.
Commending the security agencies, President Tinubu praised their courage, professionalism and effective inter-agency collaboration, saying the successful mission reflected the growing efficiency of Nigeria's security architecture.
He reaffirmed his administration's determination to confront insecurity and protect the lives and property of Nigerians through sustained intelligence-driven operations.
The Presidency disclosed that the rescued victims are currently receiving medical attention and first aid at the Wawa Cantonment medical facility before being reunited with their families through their respective state governments after proper medical evaluation and rehabilitation.
Tinubu further directed security agencies and relevant stakeholders to intensify preventive measures by strengthening early warning systems, enhancing community-based intelligence gathering and improving rapid response capabilities to forestall future abductions, while assuring Nigerians that his administration would continue deploying all necessary security assets to restore lasting peace across the country.
