Nigerian troops rescue 41 travellers after bus breaks down in Zamfara

Nigerian troops have rescued 41 travellers after armed bandits attempted to abduct passengers from a broken-down commercial bus on the Tsafe-Funtua Road in Zamfara State, the military said. The bus was travelling from Senegal to Kano State when it developed a mechanical fault on Monday in Tsafe Local Government Area. According to preliminary reports, the attackers tried to move the stranded passengers into nearby areas.

Troops from Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA said they responded after receiving actionable intelligence. They engaged the attackers with superior firepower, forcing the armed men to abandon the passengers and flee into surrounding farmlands. The rescued travellers comprised 24 males, 10 females and seven children.

The military said they were unharmed and receiving necessary support. Authorities said they would be reunited with their families and transit authorities. Troops are maintaining an active presence in the area, according to the military, both to protect travellers and to pursue the suspects who fled.

The operation followed two other operations in Zamfara on Sunday in which troops said they foiled abduction attempts and rescued 10 people. In Maru Local Government Area, soldiers responded to reports that villagers had been abducted at Kade Daba Village in Kanoma District. Troops initially rescued three victims and found another during further operations, bringing the total from that action to four.

In a separate operation on the Tsafe-Funtua Road, soldiers responding to gunfire encountered armed men withdrawing through high ground and forced them to flee. The Theatre Commander praised the troops and said the military remained committed to sustained operations against armed groups in the North-West.