Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have rescued 11 people abducted by suspected bandits and terrorists in two separate operations in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The victims were freed during military operations carried out on October 30 and 31, 2026, following confrontations between security personnel and the suspected criminals.
The spokesman for the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Sokoto, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday.
Osoba said the first rescue operation followed a distress alert that armed bandits had blocked a road leading to Ribah town and attempted to attack the community.
He explained that soldiers deployed to the area discovered that some residents had been kidnapped, while several motorcycles were left behind at the scene.
According to him, the troops pursued the attackers and engaged them in a gun battle, compelling the gunmen to flee and abandon seven captives.
“Troops immediately pursued the bandits and exchanged fire with them, forcing them to abandon seven kidnapped victims,” the statement said.
The rescued victims were identified as Sa’adu Bala, Dantani Yahyi, Nura Musa, Nasiru Muhammad, Abdulakeem Abubakar, Abdulahi Maikudi and Zaki Gom.
The Army said the seven victims had been reunited with their families.
In a separate incident around Wasagu, Osoba said troops on routine patrol came under attack from suspected terrorists but successfully repelled the assailants.
He said the fleeing attackers abandoned four people who had earlier been kidnapped from their farms in Wasagu village.
“The troops responded decisively, forcing the terrorists to flee and abandon four victims who had earlier been abducted from their farms,” he added.
The four rescued persons were identified as Lawali Ali, Samaila Shuaibu, Kasimu Shuaibu and Aliyu Bala, all residents of Wasagu village.
They were subsequently handed over to the community head.
The military reiterated its commitment to tackling banditry and other criminal activities in the area, assuring residents that troops would sustain efforts to protect lives and property.
