Nigerian army rescues 33 kidnapped travellers in Zamfara state

The Nigerian army says it has rescued 33 people who were kidnapped by armed men while travelling through Zamfara state in north-western Nigeria. The hostages were taken in the Tsafe area on Saturday afternoon, according to the military. Troops and police moved in after hearing about the abduction and intercepted the kidnappers while they were moving the victims to another location.

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Army spokesman Lt-Col Aliyu Danja said the kidnappers fled into nearby bush after coming under fire from the security forces. He said it was not clear where the abductors had been taking the hostages when they were intercepted. The army said all 33 people were recovered safely and that no casualties were reported during the operation.

It also said images of the rescue were released alongside its statement. Kidnapping for ransom remains a persistent security problem in parts of north-western Nigeria, where major roads are often targeted by armed groups. The practice has affected travel and daily life across the region, with families sometimes forced to negotiate or pay to secure the release of relatives.

Analysts have said ransom payments, including in some cases by families, intermediaries or authorities, have helped sustain the pattern of abductions. The rescue comes amid a series of recent operations by Nigerian security forces to free abducted people. On Thursday, the presidency said more than 300 people taken in separate attacks across the country had been rescued.

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Those freed included 163 people abducted in February from the Woro and Nuku communities in Kwara state, where scores were killed, as well as 145 others taken in Niger state. Earlier, 44 pupils and teachers abducted during a raid on a school in Oyo state were also freed after more than 50 days in captivity. The latest operation also comes as President Bola Tinubu has sought to project a tougher response to insecurity, including announcing a pay increase of up to 80% for soldiers in recognition of their role in confronting banditry, kidnappings and violence from armed groups.

Zamfara has been one of the states most affected by such attacks, and the army said it is now trying to track the kidnappers after their escape. The incident underlines the continuing challenge facing security forces in the north-west, where armed groups have repeatedly targeted civilians on roads and in rural communities. What remains unclear is the fate of the kidnappers and whether any arrests were made after the rescue.

The army said it was continuing efforts to trace the armed men and urged people in the region to stay vigilant and share useful information with security forces. Further official updates may clarify whether the abductors were part of a wider network operating in the area and whether the rescued travellers will be identified publicly.

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