Troops rescue six kidnap victims, recover N800,000 from terrorists in Katsina

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued six kidnapped victims and recovered N800,000 seized from them by terrorists in Katsina State.

The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Danja said the troops of Sector 2 were conducting a fighting patrol on August 22, 2026, when they responded to a distress call that terrorists had intercepted a vehicle and abducted six occupants along the Dandume-Sheme Road.

He stated that the troops swiftly moved to the area and engaged the terrorists, overwhelming them with superior firepower.

According to him, the pressure from the troops forced the terrorists to abandon their captives and flee into the surrounding bushes.

Danja said the troops subsequently combed the area and rescued all six victims unharmed.

He added that N800,000 earlier taken from the victims by the terrorists was also recovered during the operation.

The recovered money and vehicle were later handed over to the victims in the presence of the Divisional Police Officer, Dandume, he revealed.

In a separate operation on August 21, Danja said troops of Sector 2 encountered terrorists along the Maraban Kankara axis in Kankara Local Government Area of the state.

He stated that the troops immediately engaged the terrorists, forcing them to flee in disarray into the surrounding bushes.

Danja said the troops pursued the fleeing terrorists and subsequently exploited the area, during which they recovered one motorcycle.

He said the latest operations demonstrated the continued operational pressure being maintained by troops against terrorists operating in the North-West.

Danja stated that Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, remained committed to sustaining aggressive patrols and offensive operations aimed at denying terrorists freedom of action and protecting lives and property.

He commended members of the public for their continued support and urged communities to provide timely and credible information to security forces to assist ongoing operations.