Nigeria rescues 308 Kwara Niger kidnap victims

On August 6, 2026, Nigerian security forces rescued 308 people abducted in separate attacks in Kwara and Niger states. The operation, described as the largest single-day rescue by the joint security team, freed 163 victims from Woro community in Kaiama LGA, Nigeria — Kwara State, and 145 from Nigeria — Niger State. The victims were rescued from the Kainji Lake National Park forest in New Bussa LGA, Nigeria — Niger State, during a coordinated intelligence-led operation involving the Nigeria — National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the United States — United States Department of State (DSS), and the Nigeria — Nigeria Police Force. President Bola Tinubu commended the security agencies and directed them to strengthen early warning systems, enhance community intelligence gathering, and improve rapid-response capabilities. The rescued victims received medical care at Wawa Cantonment and were to be handed over to their state governments. However, community leaders reported that 13 of the 176 Woro abductees remain unaccounted for. The abductees had been held since February 3, 2026, when terrorists attacked Woro and neighboring Nuku communities, killing scores and abducting mostly women and children. Families had raised over N155 million as ransom, but the abductors allegedly rejected it and threatened to force female captives into marriage and kill others. The attack was linked to elements of Nigeria — Lakurawa, Boko Haram, and Ansaru operating around border communities.