ABUJA, Jan 27 (Reuters) – The Nigerian army said on Tuesday it had rescued 11 kidnapping victims during a late-night operation along the Kaduna\u2013Abuja highway, thwarting an attempt by armed militants to move the captives through a forested area under the cover of darkness.<\/p>\n
The five men, three women and three children had been held for 92 days after being abducted from the Gada Mallam Maman community in Kaduna state in October.<\/p>\n
Sign up here.<\/a><\/p>\n Troops from forward operating base Doka detected the group on January 26 using long-range surveillance equipment, the army said in a statement. Soldiers moved in after spotting the kidnappers escorting their victims along a bush track.<\/p>\n Kidnappings for ransom have become a major security challenge in northwestern and central Nigeria, including along the Kaduna\u2013Abuja expressway, a major transport corridor linking the commercial capital with the federal capital territory.<\/p>\n Nigeria’s security situation is under scrutiny from U.S. President Donald Trump who launched a Christmas Day airstrike<\/a> over what he says is persecution of Christians. Last week, armed bandits kidnapped more than 160 worshippers<\/a> from two churches in Kaduna.<\/p>\n Reporting by Tife Owolabi in Yenagoa Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWriting by Chijioke Ohuocha
\nEditing by Andrew Cawthorne<\/p>\n