Nigerian troops rescued 13 hostages who were kidnapped by an extremist group in the northwestern state of Kaduna, it was reported yesterday, the country's army, reported the Associated Press, quoted by BTA.
An army statement said that "troops overpowered the terrorists, forcing them to abandon their captives".
Several kidnappers were killed and others captured, the military added. It is not specified to which armed group the kidnappers belonged.
The rescued hostages were taken to a military facility for medical examination before being returned to their families.
Arms, ammunition, solar panels and cash were also found during the rescue operation.
Kidnappings are common in parts of northern Nigeria, where dozens of armed groups take advantage of the limited presence of security forces to carry out attacks in villages and along major roads. Most victims are released only after paying ransoms, which sometimes reach thousands of dollars.
At least 1,400 students have been taken from Nigerian schools since the 2014 kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls by Boko Haram militants. in the village of Chibok in Borno state shocked the world.
"Boko Haram", Nigeria's indigenous jihadist group, began its insurgency in 2009 to establish Islamic Sharia law in the country. At least 35,000 people have been killed and 2.1 million displaced as a result of the extremist violence, according to UN agencies in Nigeria.