Nigerian army rescues 33 kidnapped travellers in Zamfara state
Nigeria's army says it safely rescued 33 people who were kidnapped by gunmen while travelling through the north-western Zamfara state. Troops intercepted the abductors as they were trying to move the hostages elsewhere.
Nigeria's army has announced the safe rescue of 33 people who were abducted by armed men on Saturday afternoon while travelling through Zamfara state in the country's north-west. The incident took place in the Tsafe area.
According to the army, troops mobilised together with police as soon as they were alerted to the kidnapping. Soldiers located the gunmen while they were in the process of relocating the hostages to an unknown destination.
When troops opened fire, the attackers fled into nearby bushland, abandoning the hostages. Army spokesman Lt-Col Aliyu Danja said it remained unclear where the kidnappers had been taking their captives at the time troops intercepted them, adding that soldiers are now working to track down the fleeing group.
Danja said troops engaged the attackers with effective fire, forcing them to abandon the victims and flee into adjoining bushes. He confirmed that all hostages were recovered unharmed, with no casualties reported.
A recurring threat
Kidnappings for ransom carried out by armed gangs are a persistent problem in north-western Nigeria, where major roads have increasingly become targets for such attacks. Analysts say the practice is sustained by ransom payments made by desperate families, intermediaries, and at times Nigerian authorities themselves.
