A joint security task force coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has rescued 308 kidnapped victims from captivity in Kwara and Niger states in one of the largest coordinated hostage rescue operations recorded in recent months.
Security sources said the operation, carried out on Wednesday, involved the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under ONSA, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.
According to the sources, the intelligence-driven operation resulted in the safe rescue of all 308 victims without any reported loss of life among those freed.
A breakdown of the rescued victims showed that 163 were freed after being abducted from Woro Community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, while another 145 victims were rescued during coordinated operations in Niger State.
The sources said the near-simultaneous operations reflected extensive intelligence gathering, inter-agency coordination and synchronized execution aimed at preventing the kidnappers from relocating hostages or escaping security forces.
Although authorities withheld operational details for security reasons, officials disclosed that the mission followed sustained intelligence-led efforts under a unified command structure coordinated by ONSA.
The rescued victims have been evacuated to the Military Medical Facility at Wawa Cantonment in New Bussa Local Government Area of Niger State, where they are receiving medical attention, health assessments and other humanitarian support.
Security officials said the victims would also undergo documentation and debriefing before being reunited with their families after the completion of medical and security procedures.
The operation highlights the growing collaboration among Nigeria’s military, intelligence and law enforcement agencies in tackling kidnapping and other organised crimes across the North-Central region.
Officials noted that criminal groups have increasingly exploited forest corridors and state boundaries to evade security forces, making intelligence sharing and joint operational planning critical to successful rescue missions.
They added that intelligence gathered during the operation is expected to support follow-up operations aimed at identifying and dismantling the kidnapping networks responsible for the abductions while strengthening ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, kidnapping and organised violent crime nationwide.
