Exclusive report with the 308 people rescued by Nigerian forces

By Evelyn Usman No fewer than 315 Nigerians abducted by terrorists and kidnappers have been rescued in separate operations across Kwara, Niger and Ogun states within 24 hours, bringing relief to hundreds of families. The figure comprises 308 victims rescued from terrorist captivity in the forests of Kwara and Niger states and seven students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, in Ogun State, who were abducted last week. The 308 victims : 163 from Kwara and 145 from Niger, many of them women and children, including a breastfeeding baby, were rescued during a special operation in the Kainji Lake National Park, KLNP, after they were abducted during attacks on Woro village in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State and neighbouring communities in Niger on February 3 and 4, 2026, according to report.

They were said to be undergoing screening and receiving medical attention at Wawa Cantonment in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State, where the Commander, 22 Brigade, was coordinating their feeding, treatment and temporary accommodation pending evacuation. Arrangements, it was gathered, had been concluded for their return to their communities, with buses positioned at Sobi Cantonment in Ilorin for the evacuation of the Kwara victims, while the respective state governments were coordinating their movement. President Bola Tinubu, while welcoming the rescue, commended the security personnel involved in the operation and directed relevant authorities to strengthen early-warning mechanisms, improve community-level intelligence gathering and enhance rapid-response capabilities to prevent further mass abductions.

No ransom paid in Ogun poly students rescue- Gov Abiodun The development came as Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Thursday announced the successful rescue of seven students of Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, in Remo North Local Government Area of the state, who were abducted on July 29, saying no ransom was paid for their release. Abiodun, who disclosed this while briefing journalists at the Oke-Mosan Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, commended the coordinated efforts of security agencies, local hunters, vigilantes and other stakeholders whose joint operation led to the rescue of the students. He explained that following the abduction, he requested aerial surveillance from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu.

Nigerian security forces have rescued 308 people abducted in separate attacks in northern Niger and Kwara states.