Nigeria’s armed forces have rescued 76 kidnapped individuals from criminal gangs in the northwestern state of Katsina, local security authorities announced. During the operation, one child held hostage lost their life, officials said.
The raid was carried out on Saturday by air force personnel, who stormed an area in Pauwa Hills, in the Kankara administrative district, according to a statement by Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security, Nasir Mu’azu.
According to him, the operation followed an airstrike targeting a notorious bandit leader and his group, who are believed to have been behind an attack on Tuesday on a mosque and surrounding villages that killed 50 people.
“The operation successfully rescued 76 kidnapped individuals, including women and children,”
the statement from Mu’azu read.
“However, it was noted with regret that one child tragically lost their life during the mission,”
he added.
Authorities did not provide details regarding possible casualties among the bandits during the operation.
Kidnappings for ransom are a common occurrence in Nigeria’s northwestern and central regions. Armed gangs, locally known as “bandits”, often raid remote villages to loot and abduct residents.
Despite official claims of rescues, families of hostages in past incidents have disputed such statements, saying they were forced to pay ransom money to secure the release of their relatives.
These gangs exploit the absence of strong state authority, engaging in abductions, cattle rustling, and imposing “taxes” on farmers, turning criminal activity into a profitable business.
