Troops operating under the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have recorded another significant security breakthrough following the successful rescue of 27 kidnapped victims unharmed and the recovery of an operational motorcycle from fleeing terrorists in Katsina State.
The development was disclosed in an official press release issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, by Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, the Media Information Officer for Operation Fansan Yamma.
According to the military spokesperson, the primary rescue operation was carried out on Thursday, October 16, 2026, after troops of Sector 1 received a distress call reporting terrorist activity in the Gamji community of Sabuwa Local Government Area.
Armed bandits had invaded the village and forcibly abducted 27 residents—comprising 15 adult males and 12 females. Upon receiving the alert, troops mobilized rapidly and pursued the armed gang as they attempted to withdraw along the Gangare–Kamba axis.
Around 6:05 p.m. on the same day, military forces established contact with the assailants. Troops engaged the terrorists with heavy, superior firepower, forcing the armed gang to abandon their hostages and flee into the surrounding wilderness. Subsequent search and clearance operations resulted in the safe extraction of all 27 abductees without injury.
Following their rescue, the victims underwent military profiling and administrative processing before being formally handed over to local community leaders for reunification with their families.
In a separate operation conducted on the same day, troops undertaking routine fighting patrols near Kurba village in Kankara Local Government Area intercepted suspected terrorists traveling on three operational motorcycles.
Upon sighting the approaching military patrol, the armed bandits abandoned one of their vehicles and scattered into nearby bushes to evade arrest. Troops secured the scene and recovered the operational motorcycle, depriving the gang of critical mobility assets.
Reacting to the successful engagements, Lieutenant Colonel Danja stressed that the operations demonstrate the sustained offensive posture and operational effectiveness of military forces deployed across the theater.
The Theatre Commander of Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, commended the troops for their gallantry, tactical discipline, and rapid response to intelligence feeds. Reaffirming the military’s resolve, the Commander assured residents that armed forces would maintain continuous pressure on bandit enclaves to restore permanent peace and security across Katsina, Zamfara, and neighboring North-West states.
