President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the rescue of 308 abducted Nigerians from the Kainji Lake National Park Forest as a major breakthrough in the country’s anti-kidnapping efforts.
The President directed security agencies to strengthen early warning systems, improve community intelligence gathering and enhance rapid response measures to prevent future attacks.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the operation was the largest single-day rescue mission carried out by a joint security team.
The rescued victims included 163 people kidnapped from Woro Community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State and 145 others abducted in Niger State.
They were freed during a coordinated intelligence-led operation conducted in the Kainji Lake National Park Forest in New Bussa Local Government Area of Niger State.
President Tinubu commended the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) for what he described as effective collaboration and professionalism.
According to the Presidency, the victims are receiving medical care and first aid at the Wawa Military Cantonment before being handed over to their respective state governments for rehabilitation and reunification with their families.
The President also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to defeating insecurity, protecting vulnerable communities and restoring lasting peace across the country.
Jubilation in Kwara as Woro victims regain freedom
Residents of Woro Community and other parts of Kaiama Local Government Area celebrated after confirmation that the abducted residents had been released.
Witnesses said people chanted “Alhamdulillah” and “Oluwa se o” as vehicles and motorcycles moved from Wawa in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State toward Woro following the announcement of the rescue.
The victims had been kidnapped in February 2026.
Member of the Kwara State House of Assembly representing Gwanabe/Gweria/Bani/Adena Constituency, Saidu Baba Ahmed, confirmed the development and thanked President Tinubu, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and security operatives.
ALGON Chairman in Kwara and Chairman of Kaiama Local Government Area, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Danladi, also confirmed the release, adding that arrangements were being made to transport the victims from Wawa Military Cantonment to Ilorin.
Army places bounty on wanted ISWAP leader
The Theatre Command of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) has identified several senior commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operating around the Lake Chad Basin and announced a financial reward for information leading to the arrest of the group’s most wanted leader.
The command said the breakthrough followed the exploitation of intelligence materials recovered during recent military offensives in northern Borno State.
Acting Media Information Officer, Capt. Mohammed Goni, said troops recovered technical devices, including a camcorder allegedly used by ISWAP fighters to record propaganda videos and document their activities.
Forensic analysis of the devices reportedly exposed terrorist hideouts and revealed the identities of key ISWAP leaders operating within the Mangari–Metele–Dogon Chukun axis in Abadam and Kukawa Local Government Areas of Borno State.
Among those identified was Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, described as the ISWAP Wali (Governor) and the group’s most wanted leader in the Lake Chad Basin.
Others named included his deputy and Amirul Jaish, Muhammad Jidda, popularly known as “The One-Handed Man”, as well as Hamad Abu Hanifa, identified as the Amirul-Fiya of ISWAP.
The military said a substantial financial reward would be given to anyone who provides credible and actionable information that leads to the arrest of Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, while assuring that informants’ identities would be fully protected.
Seventeen Boko Haram family members surrender in Borno
Operation HADIN KAI also announced that 17 family members of Boko Haram voluntarily surrendered to troops in separate incidents in Borno State.
According to Capt. Mohammed Goni, the surrenders were linked to sustained military pressure on terrorist enclaves across the Northeast.
The first incident occurred at about 9:15 a.m. on August 4, 2026, when 16 JAS family members—10 women and six children—surrendered to troops of the 222 Battalion during a domination patrol along the Gezuwa axis in Konduga Local Government Area.
Preliminary debriefing indicated that the group decided to surrender because of continuous military operations against terrorist hideouts. Troops also recovered N92,000 from the group.
In a separate incident at about 12:04 p.m. on the same day, an 11-year-old JAS family member surrendered to troops of the 202 Battalion under Sector 1 in Bama Local Government Area.
The military said all those who surrendered are in custody undergoing profiling and debriefing before being handed over to the appropriate authorities for further processing and rehabilitation in line with established procedures.
