The Nigerian police announced yesterday Sunday that they freed 58 hostages held by a gang in Kogi state (central), during an operation that resulted in the death of one of the abductees.

The kidnappings are among the challenges President-elect Bola Tinubu will have to face when he is sworn in in May, following February’s presidential election, the outcome of which was disputed by the opposition.

Police “rescued 58 people who were being held hostage in Udulu forest,” a police spokeswoman, Josephine Ade, said. He did not specify where the abduction took place, nor how long the victims were held.

One of the latter was “unfortunately injured during the operation and died on the spot (…) another 58 people are being treated in hospital”, according to the spokeswoman.

The rescue operation was carried out with the participation of other security agencies and “hunters from local communities”, he noted.

After an exchange of gunfire, the kidnappers fled, leaving the hostages behind, according to Nigerian police.

Kidnapping has become a highly lucrative business in Africa’s most populous nation. In an effort to tackle this scourge, Nigeria’s central bank decided last year to start printing new banknotes and imposed restrictions on withdrawals, which can now be made on a weekly basis.

However, due to strong reactions from citizens and a decision by the Nigerian judiciary, it announced in March that the use of the older banknotes will continue to be allowed until the end of 2023.