Mass kidnapping on Nigerian highway

The authorities in northern Nigeria have given details of a mass kidnapping attempt on the main highway linking the city of Kaduna with the capital, Abuja. 

Traffic was brought to a halt when bandits opened fire on a bus. 

Two people were reported killed and nine abducted during Sunday's attack - but the state government in Kaduna says the hostages were later freed in an army operation. 

Correspondents say there's lawlessness in several parts of Nigeria, where bandits demand ransoms. 

In a separate incident, a former international footballer, Christian Obodo, is reported to have been abducted in the south-east. 

He was kidnapped once before eight years ago but released unharmed.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: BBC