The Nigerian Army says its troops have rescued 33 people who were kidnapped by gunmen in Zamfara State.
The victims were abducted while travelling through the Tsafe area of the state on Saturday afternoon.
According to the Army, troops working with the police moved quickly after receiving information about the attack and later found the kidnappers moving the victims to an unknown destination.
The gunmen reportedly opened fire when they encountered the security forces but fled into the surrounding bush after troops engaged them.
Army spokesman, Lt-Col Aliyu Danja, said the victims were rescued without any casualties.
“The troops engaged the terrorists with effective fire, forcing them to abandon the victims and flee into adjoining bushes,” he said.
Danja said the Army was now working to track down the fleeing kidnappers.
He also urged residents in the area to remain alert and share useful information with security agencies.
Kidnapping for ransom remains a serious security problem across parts of north-western Nigeria, with major roads and travelling routes increasingly targeted by armed groups.
Families of victims often struggle to raise ransom payments, while the continued payment of ransoms has been blamed for encouraging further abductions.
The latest rescue is one of several recent operations in which security forces have freed large numbers of kidnapped Nigerians.
On Thursday, the Presidency said more than 300 people abducted in separate attacks had been rescued.
Among them were 163 people kidnapped during an attack on the Woro and Nuku communities in Kwara State in February. Scores of people were killed in the attack.
At least 145 others were also rescued after being abducted in Niger State.
The development came weeks after 44 pupils and teachers kidnapped during an attack on a school in Oyo State were freed after spending more than 50 days in captivity.
President Bola Tinubu has continued to face pressure over the country’s worsening security situation, with banditry, kidnapping and attacks by armed groups remaining major concerns.
The President recently announced that soldiers would receive salary increases of between 30 and 80 per cent, depending on rank, in recognition of their role in tackling the country’s security challenges.
But despite recent rescue operations, insecurity remains a major political issue, with Nigerians expected to make security a key consideration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
