Kidnapped university students rescued after shootout

A group of university students and other victims who had been kidnapped in northern Nigeria were rescued on Sunday, authorities said.

Gunmen attacked the Confluence University of Science and Technology in Kogi state late on Thursday night, kidnapping nine students.

The abductees were rescued by local hunters and security forces who tackled the kidnappers in a shootout, Kogi information commissioner Kingsley Femi Fanwo said on social media platform X.

Mr Fanwo also said the rescued abductees had been taken to hospital for medical attention.

"Security agents are currently combing the forests to ensure all the kidnapped students are found and brought home safely," he added.

Nigeria is experiencing a resurgence of kidnapping gangs, known as bandits, which have abducted hundreds of people since the year began, mostly in the north-west of the country.

Many of the abductees have been freed, some after ransom payments were made.