33 abducted travellers regain freedom in Nigeria

Nigeria’s army has reportedly rescued 33 people who were abducted by armed men while travelling through the north-western state of Zamfara, according to military authorities.

The victims were kidnapped in the Tsafe area on Saturday afternoon, prompting troops and police to launch an operation to locate the group, according to BBC.

The army said its forces intercepted the kidnappers as they were moving the hostages to an unknown destination.

According to army spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Aliyu Danja, the troops engaged the armed men, forcing them to abandon the victims and flee into nearby bushes.

“The troops engaged the terrorists with effective fire, forcing them to abandon the victims and flee into adjoining bushes,” Danja said.

All 33 hostages were recovered safely and no casualties were reported, the army said.

Danja said it was not immediately clear where the kidnappers intended to take the victims when security forces intercepted them.

The military has launched efforts to track the abductors following their escape.

Kidnappings for ransom remain a major security challenge in parts of north-western Nigeria, where armed groups frequently target travellers and communities.

Major roads have increasingly become vulnerable to attacks, with criminal groups abducting people and demanding ransom payments from their families or intermediaries.

Security analysts have warned that ransom payments have helped sustain the kidnapping industry, with desperate families and intermediaries, and in some cases government authorities, paying to secure the release of victims.

The latest rescue comes amid continued efforts by Nigerian security forces to disrupt armed groups operating across the country’s north-western region.

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