By Ayodele Oni
Details of the security onslaught which led to the rescue of 176 victims abducted in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara state have emerged.
They were among the 380 victims rescued by a joint operation, comprising personnel of various arms of security agencies and spearheaded by the office of the National Security Adviser, ( ONSA).
The development was announced on Wednesday in a post on the official Facebook page of the Kwara State Government, months after 176 victims were abducted.
The government wrote, “Alihamdulillaah and kudos to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, security forces, and everyone who played a role in this huge feat. We are grateful!”
The victims were kidnapped when suspected Boko Haram-linked extremists invaded the rural communities of Woro and Nuku on motorcycles, launching a coordinated assault that reportedly lasted several hours.
The attack, regarded as one of the deadliest in Kwara State’s history, reportedly claimed more than 200 lives, left several others injured, destroyed homes and businesses, and forced many residents to flee.
Local vigilantes who attempted to repel the attackers were reportedly overwhelmed, with some allegedly trapped and burnt inside their office.
Security sources familiar with the operation told Zagazola Makama that the operation, carried out on Wednesday, involved personnel of 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 working under a unified command structure.
Security sources disclosed that the intelligence-driven operation culminated in the safe rescue of all 308 victims, highlighting the growing collaboration among Nigeria’s military, intelligence and law enforcement agencies in tackling kidnapping and organised crime across the North-Central region.
163 of the victims were rescued after being abducted from Woro Community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, while another 145 victims were freed during coordinated operations in Niger State.
The sources explained that the simultaneous operations were the outcome of extensive intelligence gathering, meticulous inter-agency planning and synchronised deployment designed to prevent the kidnappers from relocating their captives or escaping security forces.
Although authorities withheld specific operational details for security reasons, officials said the rescue followed sustained intelligence-led efforts involving multiple security agencies operating under the coordination of ONSA.
Security experts have repeatedly noted that kidnapping syndicates in the North-Central region exploit dense forests and state boundaries to evade security operatives.
However, the latest rescue operation is said to reflect an increasing emphasis on intelligence sharing, joint operational planning and coordinated responses to complex security threats.
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, psychological support and other humanitarian assistance.
Medical personnel are conducting comprehensive health assessments on the victims, many of whom endured prolonged periods in captivity under difficult conditions.
Security officials also said documentation, debriefing and arrangements for their eventual reunification with their families are ongoing.
The successful operation is expected to provide fresh intelligence to support follow-up operations aimed at identifying, tracking and dismantling the criminal networks responsible for the abductions.
Security sources described the rescue as the product of sustained intelligence coordination rather than a single tactical raid, stressing that effective collaboration among the participating agencies was instrumental in securing the victims’ freedom without any reported loss of life among those rescued.
The operation marks another significant milestone in ongoing efforts by Nigeria’s security agencies to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and intensify the fight against kidnapping, terrorism and other forms of organised violent crime across the country.
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