Nigerian army says it safely rescued 33 people kidnapped by gunmen

What the report says

Nigeria’s army said it rescued 33 people who had been abducted by armed men in Zamfara state, in the country’s north-west. According to the BBC World News report, the kidnappings happened on Saturday afternoon in the Tsafe area while the victims were travelling. The army said it moved quickly with police after learning of the abduction.

The military said troops located the kidnappers while they were trying to take the hostages to another place. It said the gunmen fled into nearby bush after the troops opened fire, and that all 33 people were recovered safely and without casualties. The army spokesman, Lt-Col Aliyu Danja, said it was not clear where the abductors had been heading before the interception.

Kidnapping for ransom has remained a serious problem in parts of north-western Nigeria, where roads are often targeted by armed groups. The BBC noted that families, intermediaries and sometimes authorities have been accused of helping sustain the practice through ransom payments. Danja urged people in the region to stay alert and share useful information with security forces.

The rescue is the latest in a series of recent operations by Nigerian security forces, which have also announced the freeing of hundreds of abducted people in other states. The issue of insecurity, including banditry and kidnappings, remains a major national concern.