Nigerian army rescues 13 hostages kidnapped by extremist group

On September 15, 2024, news from Abuja, Nigeria. The Nigerian army successfully rescued 13 hostages kidnapped by an extremist group in Kaduna State in northwestern Nigeria. The army said in a statement that it successfully subdued the terrorists and forced them to abandon the hostages. Although the military did not clearly identify the armed group to which the kidnappers belonged, it said several kidnappers were killed and some were captured.

The rescued hostages were taken to military facilities for medical evaluation and then reunited with their families. Weapons, ammunition, solar panels and cash were also found during the rescue operation. In some parts of northern Nigeria, kidnappings occur frequently. Dozens of armed groups take advantage of limited security forces to launch attacks in villages and along major roads. Most victims are released only after paying a high ransom.

Since Boko Haram militants kidnapped 276 schoolgirls in Chibok village in Borno State in 2014 and shocked the world, at least 1,400 students in Nigeria have been kidnapped from schools. Nigeria's homegrown jihadist insurgent group Boko Haram launched an insurgency in 2009 aiming to establish Sharia law. According to the United Nations agencies in Nigeria, extremist violence has led to at least 35,000 deaths and 2.1 million people being displaced.