"The abducted students and staff have regained their freedom and have been received by the Niger state government," Governor Abubakar Sani Bello says.
Nigerian police and a local official said that a suspected criminal gang attacked the Government Girls Science Secondary School in Jangebe, a village in Zamfara state, kidnapping at least 300 schoolgirls.
Authorities declared ruling party candidate Mohamed Bazoum winner of the run-off election but his rival, former president Mahamane Ousmane, has alleged fraud and also claimed victory.
Nigerian internal security commissioner says armed men stormed into several villages in Kaduna state, gunning down at least 18 locals, burning homes and stealing livestock.
Opposition leader Mahamane Ousmane claims he narrowly won the country's presidential election, as fresh violence erupts in capital Niamey.
Local militia and residents say Boko Haram militants killed 10 people and injured 21 others with mortar shells in the volatile city.
A gang last week took 53 people hostage, including nine children, from a state-owned bus in Niger’s Kundu village.
Niger experts have warned that elections could see violence as the country battles rising militant attacks where thousands of people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced despite the presence of regional and international troops.
All seven personnel on board died after the plane crashed due to engine failure near Abuja airport, air force spokesman Ibikunle Daramole said.
Ruling party candidate Mohamed Bazoum is seen by many as the favourite after leading in the first round on December 27 with 39.3 percent of the vote. Polling stations opened at 0700 GMT and will close at 1800 GMT (8 am to 7pm) local time.
Nigeria’s president said he has dispatched security chiefs to coordinate a rescue operation for the students taken by the unidentified gunmen in Niger state.
Only one of five victims who died from the deadly virus in Guinea was confirmed positive for Ebola, with the remaining four listed as “probable cases”.
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