Troops Rescue Nine Kidnap Victims, Recover 56 Rustled Livestock in Katsina

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued nine kidnapped victims, recovered 56 rustled livestock and arrested a suspected terrorist during separate intelligence-led operations in Katsina State.

This was disclosed in a statement on Friday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja.

According to the statement, troops of Sector 2 rescued nine victims during a fighting patrol in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The rescued victims, comprising three women, four men and two children, were said to have been abducted by terrorists on July 9, 2026, along the Tsafe–Kuchere Road in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The statement said preliminary investigations revealed that the victims escaped from the terrorists’ hideout after their captors fell asleep before they were intercepted and rescued by the troops.

It added that the victims are currently in safe custody and undergoing processing for reunification with their families.

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In a separate operation, the troops responded to intelligence on an attempt by terrorists to rustle livestock in Bakori Local Government Area.

The military said the terrorists opened fire when they sighted the troops but were forced to retreat into the surrounding bushes following the superior firepower of the troops.

The statement said the troops recovered 56 rustled livestock abandoned by the fleeing terrorists, comprising four cattle and 52 sheep.

“The recovered livestock are in troops’ custody, pending handover to local authorities,” it added.

The Joint Task Force also disclosed that troops arrested a suspected terrorist during routine operations in Danmusa Local Government Area.

According to the statement, items recovered from the suspect during preliminary exploitation revealed materials suspected to be linked to terrorist activities.

The suspect, it added, is currently in military custody and undergoing further investigation.

Reacting to the operations, the Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, commended the troops for their professionalism, vigilance and resilience in sustaining pressure on criminal elements across the region.

The Theatre Commander reaffirmed the task force’s commitment to maintaining intelligence-driven operations in collaboration with other security agencies and law-abiding citizens.

He said the operations would continue until terrorism and other forms of criminality are “decisively defeated in the North West.”