The Mercy Helpline Initiative (MHI) welcomes with profound relief the successful rescue of 308 Nigerian citizens who were abducted in separate attacks in Kwara and Niger states.
This operation, described by President Bola Tinubu as the largest single-day rescue mission ever carried out by Nigeria’s security agencies, demonstrates what coordinated, intelligence-led action can achieve .
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, 163 of those rescued were abducted from Woro Community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, while 145 others were kidnapped in a separate attack in Niger State.
The victims were rescued from the Kainji Lake National Park Forest in New Bussa Local Government Area of Niger State following a coordinated operation involving the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Police Force.
The Kwara victims had been in captivity since February 3, 2026, when suspected extremists attacked Woro and Nuku communities, killing over 200 people in one of the deadliest attacks in Kwara State’s history. The Kwara State Government revealed it had worked tirelessly behind the scenes throughout the months-long effort, withholding public information to avoid jeopardizing the sensitive security operation.
The rescued victims are currently receiving medical attention and psychosocial support at the Military Medical Facility at Wawa Cantonment in New Bussa Local Government Area of Niger State. They will be formally handed over to their respective state governments for comprehensive care and reunification with their families.
MHI commends President Bola Tinubu for his directive to strengthen early warning mechanisms, enhance community-level intelligence gathering, and improve rapid response capabilities nationwide to prevent future mass abductions. We also applaud the Kwara State Government under Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for their sustained behind-the-scenes efforts, and the security forces for their bravery and seamless inter-agency collaboration.
As an organization committed to “Giving Relevance to Life,” MHI calls on governments at all levels to build on this momentum by addressing the root causes of insecurity including banditry, arms proliferation, and the exploitation of ungoverned forest spaces like the Kainji Lake National Park. We also call for sustained investment in community-based intelligence gathering and psychosocial support for rescued victims and their families.
We join the nation in celebrating the return of these 308 citizens. Their freedom is a testament to what coordinated action can achieve. Every life matters. Every rescued victim deserves relevance.
Signed
Samuel Solomon
Executive Director
Mercy Helpline Initiative (MHI)
For media inquiries, please contact:
Mercy Helpline Initiative (MHI)
📞 +234 806 127 3237
📧 mercyhelplineinitiative@gmail.com
#Rescue308 #KwaraNigerRescue #EndKidnapping #MHI #GiveRelevanceToLife #Nigeria
