A university in north-western Nigeria says 14 of its students and two workers who had been kidnapped by gunmen have now been freed.

On Friday, 24 girls were abducted from hostels at the Federal University of Gusau in Zamfara state.

Nine welders working in another building were also taken.

The military had earlier rescued six of the kidnapped students a few hours after the early morning attack.

The university appealed to students to remain calm, while the security agencies tried to rescue those still being held.

North-western Nigeria has seen a rise in kidnappings for ransoms in recent years.