Nigerian army rescues students abducted earlier this month

Students and staff snatched by gunmen from school in Kaduna state freed days before ransom deadline

The Nigerian army has rescued students and staff who were abducted by gunmen from a school in the country's north earlier this month, the military said, days before the deadline for a ransom payment.

School officials and residents had said 287 students were taken on 7 March in the town of Kuriga, in the north-western state of Kaduna. A military spokesperson said 137 hostages - 76 female and 61 male - were rescued in the early hours of Sunday in the neighbouring state of Zamfara.