RismadarVoice Reporters
October 20, 2026
Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have rescued 27 kidnapped victims and recovered a motorcycle during separate military operations against suspected terrorists in Katsina State.
The military disclosed that the rescued victims, comprising 15 males and 12 females, were abducted from Gamji community in Sabuwa Local Government Area before security personnel intervened.
The Media Information Officer of Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
According to Danja, troops of Sector 1 received a distress call on October 16 reporting an attack on Gamji community, where armed terrorists had abducted 27 residents.
He explained that the troops immediately mobilised and pursued the attackers along the Gangare–Kamba axis in an operation aimed at securing the release of the captives.
The military spokesman said the soldiers engaged the suspected terrorists in a gun battle, forcing them to abandon their captives and retreat from the area.
Following the encounter, troops conducted a search operation and successfully rescued all 27 victims without injuries.
Danja disclosed that the rescued residents were subsequently profiled and handed over to community leaders to facilitate their reunification with their families.
In a separate operation conducted on the same day, troops undertaking a fighting patrol around Kurba village in Kankara Local Government Area encountered suspected terrorists travelling on three motorcycles.
According to the military, the suspects fled upon sighting the soldiers, abandoning one of the motorcycles, which was subsequently recovered.
The statement did not indicate that any suspects were arrested or killed during the two operations.
Reacting to the developments, the Theatre Commander of Joint Task Force North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma, commended the troops for their prompt response and commitment to protecting vulnerable communities.
He described the operations as part of sustained efforts to restrict the activities of armed groups and restore security across the North-West.
The commander also reassured residents of Katsina, Zamfara and neighbouring states of the military’s continued determination to combat terrorism, kidnapping and other security threats.
Operation Fansan Yamma is conducting security operations across the North-West, where armed attacks and abductions have continued to threaten rural communities and disrupt economic activities.
The military maintained that coordinated patrols, intelligence gathering and rapid responses to distress calls would remain central to efforts to safeguard lives and property in the region.
