Military says 41 travellers rescued after Zamfara abduction attempt

Nigerian troops have rescued 41 travellers after armed men allegedly attempted to abduct them in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, the military said. Operation FANSAN YAMMA said the travellers were in a commercial vehicle travelling from Senegal to Kano when the vehicle developed a mechanical fault on a highway. Armed men allegedly used the breakdown to try to move the passengers away from the vehicle.

The military said troops from Sector 2 were mobilised after receiving intelligence about the incident. They engaged the attackers, who abandoned the travellers and fled into nearby farmlands. According to the statement, all 41 passengers were rescued unharmed.

They comprised 24 men, 10 women and seven children. The military did not disclose their identities, nationalities or the precise location of the incident. It also did not say whether any attackers were killed or injured, or whether arrests had been made.

The account could not be independently verified by the reporting source. The military said the rescued travellers were receiving support and would be reunited with their families and relevant transit authorities. It added that troops remained in the area to secure the highway and pursue the fleeing attackers.