Army Saves 33 Kidnapped Travelers in Nigeria’s Zamfara State

Sun Sep 06 2026 13:49:50 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Nigerian army rescues 33 people kidnapped by gunmen in Zamfara, returning them safely without casualties.

In a rapid response, Nigerian troops captured 33 hostages abducted by armed men in Zamfara’s Tsafe area. The soldiers fired upon the kidnappers, forcing them to flee and allowing the army to seize the victims. The operation highlights rising kidnappings in the region, where kidnappers target major roads for ransom. Nigerian officials say families and intermediaries often pay ransoms, fueling the terror. The rescue comes as the government works to curb violence ahead of next year’s elections.

On Saturday afternoon, the Nigerian army rescued 33 people who had been kidnapped by armed men while traveling through the north‑western Zamfara state.

Troops moved into the Tsafe area immediately after learning of the abduction, engaged the kidnappers in a firefight and forced them to flee into the brush.

All hostages were recovered unharmed, and the army is now tracking the gunmen’s whereabouts.

Kidnappings for ransom are common in the area; analysts point to families, intermediaries and sometimes even government officials paying ransoms as alarmingly encouraging the violence.

The rescue is part of a broader effort by Nigerian security forces, who recently freed over 300 abductees in separate operations. President Bola Tinubu praised soldiers and announced pay raises for junior troops to bolster security efforts ahead of the 2027 elections.