Nigerian troops freed 62 hostages and killed two militants in separate raids across Kebbi and Zamfara, the army said. The rescues followed a raid on a bandit hideout in Zamfara and an ambush of Lakurawa militants near the Augie–Sokoto border. The operations are part of a broader campaign to dismantle armed networks behind mass kidnappings in the northwest, including the Jan. 18 abduction of more than 160 worshippers in Kaduna.
Nigerian Troops Rescue 62 Hostages, Kill Two Militants in Northwest Raids
An interior view of Haske Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, after an attack by gunmen in which worshippers are kidnapped, in Kurmin Wali, Kaduna Nigeria, January 20, 2026. REUTERS/Nuhu Gwamna/File Photo
Nigerian troops freed 62 hostages and killed two militants in separate operations across Kebbi and Zamfara states on Wednesday, the army said. The actions form part of an ongoing offensive to dismantle armed networks responsible for widespread kidnappings and insecurity in the northwest.
Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba said troops stormed a known bandit hideout in Zamfara after receiving reports that captives were being held there. "All 62 hostages were rescued and are in safe custody," he said, adding that authorities are working to reunite the freed people with their families.
In a separate operation, soldiers ambushed militants from the Lakurawa group near the border between Kebbi’s Augie district and neighbouring Sokoto state following intelligence on the group's movements. The army reported that two militants were killed during those operations.
The raids come amid a recent surge in mass kidnappings across northwest Nigeria, where armed gangs have sheltered in forest hideouts and attacked villages, schools and places of worship. One notable incident was the Jan. 18 abduction of more than 160 worshippers from two churches in Kaduna state.
The security situation has drawn international attention. U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized Nigeria’s handling of violence against Christians in the region, and U.S. forces carried out strikes against Islamic State targets in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day. The Nigerian government rejects allegations of systematic persecution, saying its operations target Islamist fighters and other armed groups that attack both Christian and Muslim civilians.
The army said the recent operations are part of broader efforts to break up criminal networks responsible for kidnappings and to restore security in affected communities. Authorities also reported that investigations and coordination with local officials are underway to ensure the rescued people receive medical care and are safely reunited with relatives.
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