Nigeria rescues 11 kidnap victims in late-night operation

ABUJA, Jan 27 (Reuters) - ⁠The Nigerian ⁠army ‍said on Tuesday it had rescued 11 kidnapping victims during a late-night ‍operation along the Kaduna–Abuja highway, thwarting an ​attempt by armed militants to move the captives ​through a forested area under the cover of darkness.

The five men, three women and three children had been ​held for 92 days after being abducted from the Gada Mallam Maman community in ​Kaduna state in October.

Troops from forward operating base Doka detected ‌the group on January 26 using long-range surveillance equipment, the army said in ​a statement. Soldiers moved ⁠in after spotting the kidnappers escorting their victims along a bush ‌track.

Kidnappings for ransom have become a major security challenge in northwestern and central Nigeria, including along ‌the Kaduna–Abuja expressway, a major transport corridor linking the ‌commercial capital with the federal capital territory.

Nigeria's security situation is under scrutiny from U.S. President Donald Trump who ‍launched a Christmas Day airstrike over what he says is persecution ⁠of Christians. Last week, armed bandits kidnapped more than 160 worshippers from two churches in Kaduna.

(Reporting by Tife Owolabi in YenagoaWriting by Chijioke OhuochaEditing by Andrew Cawthorne)

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