Many kidnapped wedding guests have been released

29 wedding guests who were kidnapped in the Zamfara state of northwest Nigeria over two weeks ago have been released.

While traveling back home from the neighboring Sokoto state, where they had attended a colleague's wedding, they were abducted by gunmen who ambushed a convoy of their vehicles.

The fatalities were mobile phone vendors from Gusau, the capital of Zamfara state, and specifically from Bebeji Plaza, a well-known phone market.

On Thursday night, the released abductees were welcomed by Ibrahim Kado, the market's director.

He told the BBC that the victims' appearance of exhaustion and malnutrition indicated that they were in a "pathetic situation."

When they were rescued, he claimed one of the prisoners was so critically ill that he required a blood transfusion and intravenous fluids.

Even the most inhumane person must feel affected upon viewing the released hostages, according to Mr. Kado.

However, the market leader voiced his joy at the hostages' eventual release. Regarding if a ransom was paid, he opted not to comment.

However, a different victim's coworker told the BBC that following talks with the kidnappers, a ransom had been paid.

On the hostages' release, the authorities have not yet made any remarks.

A police spokeswoman told the BBC that a search and rescue operation had been started shortly after their kidnapping.

Armed criminal groups have made killings and kidnappings for ransom commonplace throughout Nigeria, particularly in the northwest, with hundreds either captured or dead since the start of this year alone.