Nigerian security forces free more than 300 hostages abducted by militants

President hails ‘successful’ rescue as country battles endemic kidnapping for ransom and insecurity worsens

Nigerian security forces have rescued more than 300 abducted people in what the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, hailed as the largest single-day hostage recovery in the country’s history.

The release was announced on Wednesday after a joint operation, conducted by the military, police and counter-terrorism units, freed victims held captive in the dense forests of the Kainji Lake national park in the north-central region.