06/08/2026
EXCLUSIVE: ONSA-Coordinated Security Operation Rescues 308 Kidnap Victims in Kwara, Niger
By Nigerian Military Gallery
In one of the largest coordinated hostage rescue operations recorded in recent months, a joint security task force led under the coordination of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has rescued 308 kidnapped victims from captivity across Kwara and Niger states, underscoring an increasingly integrated approach by Nigeria’s security agencies in confronting organized kidnapping networks operating across the North-Central region.
Security sources familiar with the operation told Nigerian Military gallery that the rescue mission was executed on Wednesday through a coordinated deployment involving the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), operatives of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) under ONSA, the Nigeria Police Force, and other security agencies.
According to the sources, the operation culminated in the safe recovery of 308 abducted persons, making it one of the most significant mass rescue missions carried out by security forces in recent times.
The breakdown of the rescued victims indicates that 163 persons were freed after being abducted from Woro Community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, while another 145 victims were rescued during coordinated operations in Niger State.
The sources said the simultaneous nature of the operations reflected extensive intelligence gathering, inter-agency planning and synchronized ex*****on designed to deny the kidnappers opportunities to relocate hostages or evade security forces.
Although operational details were not immediately disclosed for security reasons, officials said the rescue followed sustained intelligence-driven efforts involving multiple agencies working under a unified command structure.
Security experts have long argued that kidnapping syndicates operating across North-Central Nigeria often exploit forest corridors and state b
