Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 31 kidnapped victims and killed two terrorists, including a suspected kingpin, during separate operations in Kebbi and Katsina states.
The operations, conducted on September 14 and 15, also led to the arrest of two suspected terrorists in Katsina State.
The Media Information Officer of the JTF North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Danja said troops of Sector 2 responded to reports of the abduction of civilians from Fafala Village in Kangiwa Local Government Area of Kebbi State on September 14.
He said the troops, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a fighting patrol towards Fafala and Dandikwa, where they engaged the terrorists.
“Troops engaged them in a heavy exchange of fire, forcing the terrorists to withdraw in disarray,” he said.
According to him, subsequent exploitation of the area led to the rescue of 21 kidnapped victims, who were later reunited with their families.
Also on September 14, troops deployed to Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State rescued 10 victims abducted from Unguwan Daudu and Unguwan Chibauna communities.
Danja said the troops launched a hot pursuit after receiving reports of the abductions and engaged the attackers in a gun battle, forcing them to flee.
He said the operation resulted in the rescue of 10 victims, comprising three males and seven females, including an infant.
“The rescued victims are in troops’ custody for further action,” Danja stated.
The JTF recorded another operation in Katsina on September 15 after receiving intelligence about plans by terrorists to attack communities in Matazu and Kankara local government areas.
Danja said troops mobilised to the suspected hideout and engaged the terrorists with superior firepower, killing two of them.
“One of the terrorists neutralised was Abbah Alhassan, a known terrorist kingpin,” he stated.
He said other members of the group fled into the surrounding bush during the encounter.
Items recovered from the hideout included 10 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle, a cutlass, camouflage clothing and Indian hemp, among other items.
Danja also disclosed that troops arrested two suspected terrorists in the Yantumaki general area of Dan Musa Local Government Area of Katsina on September 15.
“Preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspects were associated with a terrorist kingpin known as Mannori,” he said.
He added that the suspects remained in military custody and would undergo further investigation.
The JTF said the operations were part of its efforts to rescue kidnapped victims, disrupt terrorist networks and deny armed groups freedom of action across the North-West.
“The Joint Task Force appreciates members of the public for their continued support and urges them to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest security agency,” Danja said.
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