Nigeria: 17 students rescued from captivity, nearly 300 freed

The Nigerian army rescued 17 students and a woman who were kidnapped in Sokoto state two weeks ago, Reuters reported, adding that nearly 300 others were released after 2 weeks in captivity.

The rescued students were taken from Tsangaya school on March 9, and were freed on Friday in an operation coordinated by the army and the National Security Adviser’s office.

Also, 287 students abducted from a school in the remote town of Kuriga on March 7 were released without any ransom paid. At least 100 of them are aged 12 or younger.

Kidnappings by non-ideological criminal gangs demanding ransoms are happening almost daily in northern Nigeria, causing families and communities to pool savings and sell assets to secure the release of their loved ones.