RismadarVoice Reporters, June 17, 2026
Troops of the Nigerian Army conducting Operation CLEAN SWEEP III have rescued four kidnapped victims during a sustained offensive against the criminal network of notorious bandit kingpin Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani in Katsina State.
The rescue operation was carried out on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, by troops of the 17 Brigade Strike Group/Quick Response Force, supported by personnel of the 8 Division Special Forces, as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist and bandit hideouts across the state.
Military sources disclosed that the troops launched a coordinated assault on terrorists’ enclaves in Fafu Village along the Matazu-Musawa axis following intelligence gathered through surveillance operations conducted by the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
The aerial intelligence reportedly enabled troops to identify and dominate the terrorists’ camp before advancing for the ground operation.
During the operation, troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to abandon their hideout and flee under heavy military pressure.
A subsequent search of the camp led to the rescue of four abducted victims who had been held captive by the bandits.
The rescued victims were immediately evacuated to the Forward Operating Base, Matazu, where they were received by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division and Commander Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General B.P. Koughna.
The Army said the GOC reassured the victims of their safety and reiterated the military’s commitment to restoring peace and security across Katsina State and the wider North-West region.
Some of the victims, who sustained gunshot injuries during their captivity, were given emergency medical treatment before being transferred to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, for further specialist care.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were abducted on April 14, 2026, at Sabon Sara along the Matazu-Karaduwa Road.
Security sources further disclosed that the victims were held alongside the late Major General Rabe Abubakar (rtd) and his wife during their period in captivity.
The military said troops are continuing efforts to track down Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani and other members of his criminal network, vowing to sustain aggressive operations until those responsible for acts of terrorism, kidnapping and banditry are apprehended or neutralised.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment, in collaboration with other security agencies, to denying terrorists and bandits safe havens and ensuring the protection of lives and property across the country.
The latest rescue operation forms part of ongoing military offensives aimed at degrading bandit groups and restoring security in Katsina State and other parts of the North-West region.
