Kathmandu— Nigerian President Bola Tinubu announced on Thursday that the country's security forces had carried out the largest-ever single-day hostage rescue, freeing 308 people who were abducted in Kwara and Niger states. The operation comes amid a surge of mass kidnappings across northern Nigeria, with at least 1,100 abductions reported in the first four months of 2026 alone.

Operation Details

The rescued hostages are currently receiving medical treatment at Wawa Cantonment and will be transferred to their respective states for further care and reunification with their families. Tinubu praised the security agencies for their “intelligence, courage and coordination” that made the mission possible.

President's Response

Following the successful operation, President Tinubu directed the country’s security services to strengthen early-warning systems, expand community awareness, and improve rapid-response capabilities nationwide. He emphasized, “We will continue to pursue those who threaten our people and do everything necessary to keep every Nigerian community safe.”

Security Measures

In response to the surge in kidnappings, Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency last November, ordered the recruitment of thousands of additional police officers and military personnel, and allocated 5.41 trillion naira ($3.5 billion) to defense in the 2026 budget. He also approved salary increases of up to 80% for the country's armed forces.

Continued Threats

Despite these measures, violence persists. Days before the hostage release, gunmen reportedly killed at least 12 people and abducted several women and children in Sokoto State last weekend. In June, armed men kidnapped at least 36 students and a staff member from a secondary school in Borno State while examinations were underway.

International Support

Russia has condemned terrorist attacks in Nigeria and offered assistance to combat terrorism. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow was ready to assist Abuja, and discussions on expanding bilateral cooperation in security and defense took place between Russian Ambassador Andrey Podelyshev and Nigerian Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.