Nigerian army rescues 33 hostages abducted in Zamfara state

The Nigerian army announced that it rescued 33 individuals who had been kidnapped by armed men while traveling through Zamfara state's Tsafe area on Saturday afternoon. Troops, acting together with police, located the abductors as they attempted to move the hostages to an unknown destination and opened fire, causing the gunmen to flee into nearby bushland. All hostages were recovered unharmed.

Lt-Col Aliyu Danja, the army spokesperson, said the operation forced the kidnappers to abandon the victims and that the military is now working to trace the perpetrators. He urged residents in the region to stay vigilant and share any relevant information with security forces.

Kidnappings for ransom remain frequent in north-western Nigeria, where major roads are often targeted. Analysts note that ransom payments by families, intermediaries or, in some cases, authorities have contributed to the persistence of such attacks. The rescue follows recent operations that freed more than 300 people abducted in separate incidents across the country, including a school raid in Oyo state that ended after more than 50 days.