Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued nine kidnap victims, recovered 56 rustled livestock and arrested a suspected terrorist during separate operations in Katsina State.
The development was disclosed on Friday by the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, who said the operations were carried out across different parts of the state following credible intelligence.
According to Danja, troops of Sector 2 rescued the victims—three women, four men and two children—during a fighting patrol in Faskari Local Government Area.
He said preliminary investigations revealed that the victims had been abducted by terrorists on July 9 along the Tsafe–Kuchere Road in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The spokesperson said, “The victims informed the troops that they escaped from the terrorists’ camp after their captors fell asleep before they were intercepted and rescued during the patrol.”
He added that the rescued victims are currently in safe custody and are being processed for reunification with their families.
In a separate operation, troops responded to intelligence about terrorists attempting to rustle livestock in Bakori Local Government Area.
According to Danja, “On sighting the troops, the terrorists opened fire but were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the troops and fled into the surrounding bush, abandoning 56 rustled animals comprising four cattle and 52 sheep.”
The recovered livestock have been taken into military custody pending their handover to the appropriate authorities.
The military also confirmed the arrest of a suspected terrorist during another operation in Danmusa Local Government Area.
Danja said preliminary findings from items recovered from the suspect suggested possible links to terrorist activities, adding that the suspect remains in military custody for further investigation.
He noted that the Theatre Commander of Operation FANSAN YAMMA commended the troops for their professionalism, vigilance and resilience.
The commander reaffirmed the Joint Task Force’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations in collaboration with other security agencies and local communities until terrorism and other criminal activities are eliminated across the North-West.
