Two kidnapped victims have been rescued from their captors by troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, who also recovered 94 rustled livestock during separate operations in Kaduna and Kano states.
The successful operations were conducted on August 25 and 26, 2026, disrupting terrorist activities across the Joint Operations Area.
Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, the Media Information Officer of the joint task force, explained in a statement that troops of Sector 1, while conducting a clearance operation in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State, encountered terrorists who attempted to ambush the advancing troops but were unsuccessful.
The statement said the troops immediately responded with superior firepower, forcing the terrorists to flee. A motorcycle abandoned by the fleeing terrorists was recovered during the subsequent exploitation of the area.
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According to the statement, the troops, in another operation, responded swiftly to a distress call over the abduction of three civilians and the rustling of livestock around Hayin Babangida in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
It said the troops tracked and engaged the terrorists, leading to the successful rescue of two female victims, who were subsequently reunited with their families.
The third victim, a male, was found with a gunshot wound inflicted by the terrorists and died while being evacuated for medical attention, the statement explained.
It added that the troops responded to reports of terrorist activities in Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State, where terrorists had rustled livestock from a community.
The troops pursued the fleeing terrorists and made contact with them as they attempted to escape from the area.
Overwhelmed by the troops’ superior firepower, the terrorists fled in disarray, abandoning the rustled animals, the statement added.
It explained that further exploitation of the area on August 26 led to the recovery of additional livestock, bringing the total number recovered to 94, comprising 57 cows and 37 sheep.
The recovered livestock were subsequently handed over to their rightful owners in the presence of representatives of security agencies and local government authorities.
The joint task force said the operations underscored the determination of Operation FANSAN YAMMA to sustain pressure on terrorist and criminal elements while protecting lives and livelihoods across the North West.
It added that the troops would continue to take the fight to criminal elements through intelligence-driven operations, aggressive patrols and rapid response to threats against communities in order to curtail their evil operations.
The joint task force hailed members of the public for their continued support and advised residents to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information on suspicious activities to security forces, as such cooperation remains vital to ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and restore lasting peace and security across the North West region.
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