President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the successful rescue of 308 Nigerians abducted in separate attacks in Niger and Kwara.
This is contained in a statement by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday in Abuja.
163 of the rescued victims were abducted from Woro Community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara, and 145 from Niger.
The victims were freed from the Kainji Lake National Park Forest in New Bussa Local Government Area of Niger following a coordinated intelligence-driven operation.
The operation was carried out by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force.
The presidency described the mission as the largest single-day rescue operation ever conducted by the joint security team.
Tinubu commended the leadership and personnel of the participating security agencies for their courage, professionalism and effective collaboration.
“The successful execution of this intelligence-led operation demonstrates the growing efficiency and collaboration among our security services.
“I commend our gallant men and women in uniform for their bravery and unwavering commitment to safeguarding the lives of Nigerians,” the president said.
According to the presidency, the rescued victims are currently receiving first aid and medical attention at the medical facility in Wawa Cantonment.
It said the victims would be handed over to their respective state governments after medical evaluations for further care and reunification with their families.
Tinubu also stressed the need to strengthen national security infrastructure to prevent future incidents.
The president directed security agencies and relevant stakeholders to enhance early warning systems, improve community intelligence gathering and strengthen rapid response mechanisms.
He further reassured Nigerians of his administration’s determination to eliminate security threats and restore peace across the country.
The president said his government remained committed to protecting vulnerable communities and ensuring the safety of all citizens.
