At least 55 suspected terrorists were killed during the operations in the states of Kogi and Kwara, a security official has reported

Nigerian police say they have rescued more than 300 hostages and killed dozens of suspected militants during coordinated security operations in two neighboring states. The moves come as the authorities step up efforts to curb a surge in kidnappings and deadly armed attacks in parts of the West African country.

A total of 309 hostages were freed, while at least 55 suspects were "neutralized" and 129 others arrested in clashes in the states of Kogi and Kwara, Nigerian Police Force spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin told local broadcaster Channels Television on Tuesday.

"Some people might want to say these were extrajudicial killings, so I have to make it clear - these were firefights," Hundeyin said.

He added that the results followed "months of intelligence gathering and planning" involving multiple security agencies.

Nigeria's northern and Middle Belt regions have long been plagued by kidnappings, banditry, and communal violence, with armed gangs frequently targeting travelers, villages, and schools. Despite a 2022 law banning ransom payments, kidnappers continue to demand payment for the release of their victims.

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More than a dozen worshippers were kidnapped in an attack on a church in Kogi State before Christmas. On January 3, armed groups raided Kasuwan-Daji village in Niger State, reportedly killing at least 30 people and abducting an unspecified number. Some of those kidnapped are students who were recently rescued in the St. Mary's Catholic boarding school mass abduction in November, according to humanitarian groups, including the UN Refugee Agency.

The crisis prompted Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to declare a nationwide security emergency and order expanded deployments of military and police personnel to affected regions. More than 20,000 schools were also shut across seven states under the security measures, according to estimates published by Amnesty International.

In a statement on January 2, Niger State's Education Ministry announced that schools "in safe and secure areas" will begin reopening later this month, following "careful security assessments and extensive consultations" with law enforcement agencies.