Nigerian Army Rescues 33 Kidnap Victims in Zamfara, Pursuing Gunmen Who Fled Under Fire
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Aug 9
Nigerian Army Rescues 33 Kidnap Victims in Zamfara, Pursuing Gunmen Who Fled Under Fire
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Aug 9
Summary
33 hostages were recovered without casualties after Nigerian troops and police intercepted gunmen moving them from the Tsafe area of Zamfara on Saturday, the army said.
Troops mobilized immediately after the abduction report and opened fire on the kidnappers, who abandoned the victims and escaped into nearby bushland; the army said it is still tracking them.
Zamfara sits in Nigeria's kidnapping belt, where armed groups frequently target travelers on major roads and seek ransom payments that analysts say have helped sustain the crime.
More than 300 abductees were rescued in separate operations announced this week, as President Bola Tinubu pushes to curb banditry before the 2027 elections and has promised soldiers pay rises of up to 80%.