By The Nigerian army has successfully rescued 13 hostages who were kidnapped by an extremist group in the northwestern state of Kaduna, military officials announced on Saturday.
In a statement, the army reported that troops “successfully overwhelmed the terrorists, forcing them to abandon their captives.” The operation resulted in several kidnappers being killed and others captured, though the military did not specify which armed group the kidnappers belonged to.
The rescued hostages were taken to a military facility for medical assessment before being reunited with their families. During the operation, troops also recovered weapons, ammunition, solar panels, and cash.
This rescue operation underscores the persistent security challenges facing northern Nigeria, where kidnappings have become increasingly common. Dozens of armed groups exploit the limited security presence in the region to carry out attacks in villages and along major roads.
“This successful operation demonstrates our commitment to protecting Nigerian citizens from the scourge of kidnapping,” said Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations. “We will continue to pursue these criminal elements and bring them to justice.”
Kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative criminal enterprise in Nigeria, with most victims released only after substantial payments, sometimes amounting to thousands of dollars. The practice has had a particularly severe impact on education in the region.
Since the 2014 kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls by Boko Haram militants in Chibok, Borno state — an incident that shocked the world — at least 1,400 students have been abducted from Nigerian schools.
The ongoing insecurity is largely attributed to various extremist groups, including Boko Haram, which launched its insurgency in 2009 with the aim of establishing Islamic Shariah law in the country. According to United Nations agencies in Nigeria, at least 35,000 people have been killed and 2.1 million displaced as a result of the extremist violence.
