Nigerian military officials announced on Wednesday that 62 hostages were rescued and two militants were killed during operations aimed at combating militant groups. This follows a shocking incident over the weekend where gangs kidnapped over 160 individuals from two churches in Nigeria. It’s still not clear if any of those rescued are from the congregation.
According to Army Spokesperson Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba, the military conducted a raid in northwestern Zamfara state after receiving intelligence about the hostages. The rescued individuals are reportedly safe and being reunited with their families, as noted by Reuters.
In a separate operation, soldiers ambushed insurgents near the border areas of Kebbi and Sokoto states. The church kidnapping, which affected both Christians and Muslims, marked yet another instance of mass abduction in Nigeria, as reported by the BBC. Armed groups, particularly Islamic extremists, have been increasing their activities, often targeting villages and places of worship from their forest hideouts.
Reports indicate that Nigeria has been designated as a global center for violence against Christians due to religious beliefs, and this designation is expected to take effect in 2025.
Armed militants, notably Muslim Fulani groups, often carry out attacks to destabilize Christian communities while seeking ransoms. The police in Kaduna state revealed that gunmen, equipped with advanced weaponry, assaulted two churches in Kurumin Warri village on Sunday around 11:25 a.m.
As of Monday, police in Kaduna noted that dozens of individuals had been detained, and the investigation into the situation remains in its early stages. Church officials, however, reported that more than 160 church members were abducted during the incident.
