The Nigerian army rescued 13 hostages kidnapped by an extremist group in the northwestern state of Kaduna. As the army announced, several kidnappers were killed in the operation and others were arrested. Weapons, ammunition and money were also seized. It was not announced to which group the kidnappers belonged.

Kidnappings are common in 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 a ransom, which sometimes reaches thousands of dollars.

At least 1.400 students have been taken from Nigerian schools since militants from the Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram kidnapped 276 schoolgirls in Chibok village in Borno state in 2014.