Sixty-two people who were kidnapped by armed bandits in north-west Nigeria have managed to escape following an airstrike on their captors’ hideout, officials confirmed.
The Nigerian Air Force carried out the operation against the camp of a notorious bandit leader, Muhammadu Fulani, located in Jigawa Sawai, Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State, near the Zamfara border.
Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, said the Saturday evening strike forced the bandits to flee, providing an opening for their captives to break free.
“Twelve of the rescued victims are being treated at Matazu General Hospital, while 16 others are being held at an army forward operating base in Kaiga Malamai,” Dr. Mu’azu added.
According to survivors, the bandits scattered in confusion during the air raid, allowing many hostages to escape in different directions.
Most of those freed had been abducted on 11 August in a nighttime attack on Sayaya village in Matazu. Fulani’s gang has been implicated in a series of violent raids across Katsina and neighbouring Kano State.
Dr. Mu’azu further revealed that a quick response unit from the Air Force has now been deployed to Matazu and Bakori local government areas to tackle ongoing attacks.
“Troops are currently monitoring the situation for further rescue operations. The general security situation in the area remains calm,” he said.
He added that the state government would ensure the victims were reunited with their families after completing medical assessments.
Governor Dikko Umaru Radda commended the “gallant efforts” of the security forces and reiterated his administration’s dedication to eradicating banditry in the state.
Armed gangs, often referred to locally as bandits, have in recent years carried out mass abductions and deadly attacks across north-west and central Nigeria, frequently targeting villages, schools, and highways.
