Nigeria’s army has said it safely rescued 33 people after they were kidnapped by armed men while travelling through the country’s north-western Zamfara state.

The army said its troops mobilised alongside the police immediately after hearing about the abduction, in the Tsafe area of Zamfara on Saturday afternoon.

The military found the kidnappers in the process of moving the hostages to an unknown location, the army said, and the gunmen fled into the nearby bush after coming under fire.

Kidnappings by armed groups who hold people for ransom are common in parts of north-western Nigeria and major roads have become targets for attacks.

Analysts say ransom payments by desperate families, intermediaries or, in some cases, Nigerian authorities have fuelled the abductions.

Nigerian army spokesman Lt-Col Aliyu Danja said it was unclear where the abductors were moving their hostages when troops intercepted them, adding that the army was now attempting to track the kidnappers.

“The troops engaged the terrorists with effective fire, forcing them to abandon the victims and flee into adjoining bushes,” he said, noting that all the hostages had been recovered without any casualties.

Danja warned members of the public in the region to remain vigilant and pass on relevant information to security forces.

Nigeria’s security forces have recorded a recent success in rescuing kidnapped victims.

On Thursday, the country’s presidency said that more than 300 people abducted in separate attacks in Nigeria had been rescued.

Those freed included 163 people abducted in an attack in February on the Woro and Nuku communities in Kwara state, where scores were killed. At least 145 others had been taken in Niger state.

The rescue came weeks after 44 pupils and teachers abducted during a raid on a school in Oyo state were freed after more than 50 days in captivity.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu said on Wednesday that soldiers would get a pay increase of up to 80% for the government’s “deep appreciation” of those battling the nation’s enormous security threats.

Tinubu is attempting to curb widespread banditry, kidnappings and violence from various armed groups, including Islamist militants.

Continuing insecurity nationwide has become a major political issue ahead of the 2027 elections.