Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued nine kidnapped victims, recovered 56 rustled livestock and arrested a suspected terrorist in separate operations across Katsina State.
The operations, carried out through intelligence-driven missions, are part of ongoing efforts by the military to sustain pressure on terrorists and other criminal elements operating in the North-West.
In a statement obtained from the verified Facebook handle, HQ Nigerian Army , on Friday, the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said troops of Sector 2 rescued the nine victims during a fighting patrol in Faskari Local Government Area.
According to him, preliminary investigations revealed that the victims, three women, four men and two children were abducted by terrorists on July 9, 2026, along the Tsafe–Kuchere Road in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
He said the victims escaped from the terrorists’ hideout after their captors fell asleep and were subsequently intercepted and rescued by the troops.
“The rescued victims are currently in safe custody and are undergoing the necessary procedures before being reunited with their families,” the statement added.
In another operation in Bakori Local Government Area, troops acting on credible intelligence foiled an attempt by terrorists to rustle livestock.
The terrorists reportedly opened fire on sighting the troops but were overpowered by the soldiers’ superior firepower and fled into the surrounding bush, abandoning 56 rustled animals comprising four cattle and 52 sheep.
The military said the recovered livestock are in its custody pending their handover to the appropriate authorities.
Similarly, troops arrested a suspected terrorist during routine operational activities in Danmusa Local Government Area.
According to the statement, preliminary exploitation of items recovered from the suspect indicated possible links to terrorist activities, while further investigations are ongoing.
The Theatre Commander of Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, commended the troops for their professionalism, vigilance and resilience, reaffirming the military’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations in collaboration with other security agencies and law-abiding citizens until terrorism and other forms of criminality are decisively defeated across the North-West.
