President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday hailed the rescue of 308 abducted Nigerians from the Kainji Lake National Park Forest as a breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping.
He directed security agencies to strengthen early warning systems and community intelligence to prevent future attacks.
The President also praisded the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Department of State Services (DSS), the police and the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) for what the Presidency described as the largest rescue operation ever conducted in a single day by a joint security team.
According to a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the rescued victims comprised 163 persons abducted from Woro Community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State and 145 kidnapped in Niger State.
The victims were rescued during a coordinated intelligence-led operation in the Kainji Lake National Park Forest in New Bussa Local Government Area of Niger.
President Tinubu hailed the security agencies for their courage, professionalism and effective collaboration, saying the operation reflected the growing synergy among Nigeria’s security institutions.
“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 Nigerian lives,” the President said.
The rescued victims are receiving first aid and other medical attention at the Wawa Military Cantonment.
The Presidency said they would be handed over to their state governments for rehabilitation and reunification with their families after medical evaluation.
While celebrating the successful operation, President Tinubu directed security agencies and other stakeholders to reinforce early warning mechanisms, improve community-based intelligence gathering and strengthen rapid response capabilities to forestall future attacks.
He reiterated his administration’s determination to defeat insecurity, protect vulnerable communities and restore lasting peace across the country.
Jubilation in Kwara community
There was widespread jubilation in Woro Community and other parts of Kaiama Local Government Area in the Northern part of Kwara State following confirmation that the abducted residents had regained their freedom.
Residents celebrated with chants of “Alhamdulillah” and “Oluwa se o” as vehicles and motorcycles were seen racing from Wawa in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger towards Woro after news of the rescue filtered into the community.
The victims were abducted from Woro in February.
A member representing Gwanabe/Gweria/Bani/Adena Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Saidu Baba Ahmed, confirmed the rescue.
“Yes, the Woro kidnap victims have been released. I’m very, very excited about this development. We give thanks to President Bola Tinubu, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and our security operatives,” he said.
A senior Kwara State Government official also celebrated the rescue.
“Woro kidnap victims have regained their freedom. Alhamdulillah and kudos to President Tinubu, the security forces and everyone who played a role in this huge feat. We are grateful,” the official said.
Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kwara State/Chairman of Kaiama Local Government Area, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Danladi, also confirmed the rescue.
“Yes, they have indeed been released. They are currently in Wawa Military Cantonment in Niger because our people are not the only victims released.
“The Office of the Secretary to the State Government is arranging vehicles that will bring them to Ilorin.
“I thank Almighty God that their release happened in my time, and I am very happy about it,” he said.
Army places bounty on ISWAP leader
Also yesterday, the Theatre Command of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) identified some of the most senior commanders of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) operating around the Lake Chad Basin and announced a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest of the group’s most wanted leader.
The command said the breakthrough followed the exploitation of intelligence materials recovered during recent offensive operations by troops in northern Borno State.
In a statement, the Acting Media Information Officer of OPHK, Capt. Mohammed Goni, said troops recovered technical devices, including a camcorder allegedly used by ISWAP fighters to record propaganda videos and document their activities.
He said forensic analysis of the recovered devices yielded actionable intelligence, exposing terrorist hideouts and revealing the identities of key ISWAP leaders operating within the Mangari-Metele-Dogon Chukun axis along the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin in Abadam and Kukawa Local Government Areas of Borno.
Among those identified is Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, described as the Wali (Governor) of ISWAP and the group’s most wanted leader in the Lake Chad Basin.
Others include his deputy and Amirul Jaish, Muhammad Jidda, popularly known as “The One-Handed Man”; Hamad Abu Hanifa, the Amirul-Fiya of ISWAP; and other senior terrorist commanders.
The military said the intelligence breakthrough resulted from sustained offensives against ISWAP/ISIS enclaves in the Lake Chad region and would significantly strengthen ongoing operations to dismantle the terrorist network.
It announced a substantial financial reward for anyone who provides credible and actionable information leading to the arrest of Abu Musa Al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa.
“The military will offer a substantial financial reward to any individual whose credible and actionable information directly leads to his arrest.
“All information received will be treated with the utmost confidentiality, and the identity of informants will be fully protected in accordance with established security procedures,” the statement said.
The command appealed to the public to continue supporting counter-terrorism operations by volunteering credible intelligence that could assist security agencies in tracking and apprehending the wanted terrorist leaders.
17 Boko Haram family members surrender to troops in Borno
The OPHK also said 17 family members of Boko Haram voluntarily surrendered to troops in separate locations in Borno.
Goni, in a statement, attributed the latest surrenders to sustained military offensives against terrorist enclaves across the Northeast.
He stated that the first incident occurred at about 9:15 a.m. on August 4, when 16 JAS family members, comprising 10 women and six children, voluntarily surrendered to troops of the 222 Battalion during a domination patrol along the Gezuwa axis in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno.
He said preliminary debriefing revealed that the group’s decision to surrender was prompted by the sustained operational pressure mounted by troops on terrorist hideouts.
Troops also recovered N92,000 from the group.
In a separate incident at about 12:04 p.m. on the same day, an 11-year-old JAS family member voluntarily surrendered to troops of the 202 Battalion under Sector 1 in Bama Local Government Area.
Goni said the minor also told troops during preliminary debriefing that the sustained military operations against terrorist elements in the theatre influenced the decision to surrender.
He added that all those who surrendered are currently in military custody, undergoing preliminary profiling and debriefing.
According to him, they will subsequently be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further profiling, comprehensive debriefing, rehabilitation where applicable, and other administrative procedures in line with extant guidelines.
