Recently, Nigerian forces conducted what is being hailed as the largest rescue operation in the country’s history. This operation resulted in the liberation of at least 308 captives who were held by jihadi kidnappers. Among the rescued, 163 individuals were from the Woro community in Nigeria’s Kwara State, after being abducted during a raid on February 3. During this raid, another 160 people were killed by the kidnappers.

Many of the rescued individuals shared their harrowing experiences, revealing they were abducted for resisting the religious teachings of their captors. Hauwa Saliu, one of the rescued victims, recounted how the kidnappers persistently questioned the captives about accepting jihad.

We prayed to God to help us go back home, but it never really crossed our minds that we were going to go back home, she stated in an interview.

The captives endured severe conditions during their captivity. Amira Saliu described how the women and children were kept in a forest near a river. They had to extinguish fires and hide when they heard helicopters. Despite the challenging conditions, some captives showed remarkable resilience. Saliu, a nurse, assisted 10 mothers during childbirth without access to medical supplies, using only her bare hands.

Mary Ishaya, 44, spoke of the extreme deprivation, often going days without food and witnessing others perish.

I still cannot find the right words to describe what has happened to us. We saw death and suffering, she expressed.

The governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, mentioned that 46 of the rescued victims are receiving medical care, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

This is indeed, indeed a very sad situation. We’ve not yet come to terms with it. We’re still assessing the situation. As you can see, it’s just kids . . . children and women that are here today, he stated.

This incident underscores the ongoing conflict between Nigeria’s northern Islamic insurgency and the Christian majority, constituting about 45% of the population. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump authorized missile strikes on Islamic State targets in northern Nigeria on Christmas Day. Subsequent joint military efforts reportedly led to the death of senior Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Mainuk.