62 Nigerian hostages rescued, 2 militants killed, army says

Fox News - WorldEN 2 min read 100% complete by Greg Norman-DiamondJanuary 21, 2026 at 08:08 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

The Nigerian military reported rescuing 62 hostages and killing two militants in two separate operations in Zamfara, Kebbi, and Sokoto states on Wednesday. The raids occurred after a recent surge in kidnappings, including the abduction of over 160 worshippers from two churches in Kaduna state on Sunday. The military raided a location in Zamfara state based on intelligence about captives being held there, and the rescued hostages are being reunited with their families. In a separate incident, soldiers ambushed militants in the border region between Kebbi and Sokoto states. These events are part of a larger pattern of religiously fueled attacks and mass kidnappings by armed gangs in Nigeria, particularly in the northern and central regions.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

BBC 30% Kurmin Wali 40% Reuters ×240% Sokoto State 50% Kebbi State 50% Muslim Fulani 50% Kaduna State ×250% Islamist militants 60% Zamfara State 60% Olaniyi Osoba ×260% Nigerian Army ×370% Nigeria ×790%

Keywords

nigeria 100% hostage rescue 90% militants 80% kidnapping 80% armed groups 70% church attack 70% religious violence 60% zamfara state 50% fulani militants 50% ransom 40%