Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 31 kidnapped victims and neutralised two suspected terrorists, including a suspected kingpin, during separate operations in Katsina and Kebbi states.
The operations were carried out on September 14 and 15 by troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist and kidnapping activities across the region.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said troops operating in Katsina State rescued 10 people after responding to reports that terrorists had abducted civilians from Unguwan Daudu and Unguwan Chibauna communities in Funtua Local Government Area.
According to Danja, troops of Sector 2 immediately launched a pursuit of the attackers after receiving the report and engaged them in a gun battle. The confrontation forced the terrorists to flee, allowing the soldiers to rescue the victims.
The 10 rescued victims comprised three males and seven females, including an infant. The military said the victims were taken into the custody of the troops for further action.
A separate operation in Kebbi State also resulted in the rescue of 21 kidnapped victims. The troops responded to a distress call concerning the abduction of civilians from Fafala Village in Kangiwa Local Government Area.
Acting on what the military described as credible intelligence, the troops conducted a fighting patrol towards Fafala and Dandikwa, where they encountered the terrorists.
Danja said the troops engaged the attackers in a heavy exchange of fire, forcing them to withdraw from the area. A subsequent search of the location led to the discovery and rescue of 21 kidnapped victims, who were later reunited with their families.
The military recorded another operation in Katsina on September 15 after receiving intelligence about plans by terrorists to attack communities in Matazu and Kankara local government areas.
Troops were deployed to a suspected hideout and engaged the terrorists, resulting in the deaths of two suspected members of the group, according to the military.
One of those killed was identified by the Joint Task Force as Abbah Alhassan, described by the military as a known terrorist kingpin. Other members of the group reportedly fled into the surrounding bush during the encounter.
The troops recovered 10 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle, a cutlass, camouflage clothing and Indian hemp from the hideout, according to the military.
In another operation in the Yantumaki general area of Dan Musa Local Government Area, Katsina State, troops arrested two suspected terrorists on September 15.
The military said preliminary interrogation indicated that the suspects were associated with a terrorist kingpin identified as Mannori. The suspects remained in military custody as investigations continued.
The latest operations come amid sustained military efforts to disrupt terrorist networks, rescue abducted civilians and prevent attacks on communities across the North-West. Operation FANSAN YAMMA has continued to conduct intelligence-led operations across Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
The rescue of the 31 victims also highlights the continued threat posed by armed groups operating in parts of the region, where communities have faced attacks and abductions. While the military has reported a number of successful operations, the persistence of kidnapping and terrorist activity remains a security challenge for residents and authorities.
The Army urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with credible information that could assist in detecting and disrupting criminal and terrorist activities.
The latest operations have therefore provided relief for the rescued victims and their families, while the arrests and reported death of the suspected kingpin are expected to form part of ongoing efforts to weaken terrorist networks operating in the affected areas.
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