RismadarVoice Reporters, July 26, 2026
Troops of the Joint Task Force North West under Operation Fansan Yamma have rescued 48 kidnapped residents following a successful counter-operation against armed terrorists who attacked Magami village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The military said the rescue operation was carried out in the early hours of Sunday, July 26, 2026, after troops responded swiftly to a distress call reporting the attack.
The operation, however, recorded casualties, with one civilian reportedly killed during the assault, while two others sustained gunshot injuries and are receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Kaura Namoda.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Media Information Officer of Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja.
According to the statement, the military received intelligence that a large group of heavily armed terrorists, numbering several dozen and travelling on about 40 motorcycles, had stormed Magami village and begun abducting residents.
The attackers reportedly rounded up scores of villagers with the intention of taking them into nearby forests, while another group remained stationed on the outskirts of the community with the motorcycles to facilitate their escape.
Lieutenant Colonel Danja said troops from Sector 2 immediately mobilised to the community upon receiving the distress call.
On arrival, the soldiers engaged the terrorists in an intense gun battle, forcing them to abandon the abducted victims and retreat into the surrounding bush.
“The prompt intervention by the troops led to the successful rescue of all 48 kidnapped civilians,” the statement said.
Although the operation successfully foiled the mass abduction, the military confirmed that one civilian lost his life during the attack, while two others suffered gunshot wounds.
The injured victims were evacuated to the General Hospital in Kaura Namoda, where they are currently receiving medical attention.
Following the rescue mission, troops launched aggressive patrols across the surrounding communities and forested areas to prevent the fleeing terrorists from regrouping or launching further attacks.
The Theatre Command commended the courage, professionalism and swift response of the troops involved in the operation, describing the rescue as another demonstration of the military’s determination to combat terrorism and restore peace across the North-West.
The command also reassured residents of its continued commitment to safeguarding lives and property while sustaining ongoing offensive operations against criminal groups operating in the region.
It urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies by providing timely and credible intelligence capable of preventing attacks and enhancing ongoing counter-terrorism efforts.
