Troops Rescue 31 Kidnap Victims, Kill Terror Kingpin in Kebbi, Katsina Operations
Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued 31 kidnapped victims and neutralised two terrorists, including a notorious kingpin, in separate operations across Kebbi and Katsina States.
The operations, conducted on September 14 and 15, also led to the arrest of two suspected terrorists.
This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja.
According to Danja, troops of Sector 2 were deployed to Funtua LGA of Katsina State on September 14, after terrorists abducted residents from Unguwan Daudu and Unguwan Chibauna communities.
He said the troops pursued the attackers and engaged them in a gun duel, forcing them to abandon their victims.
“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,” he said.
In a similar operation in Kebbi State on the same day, troops responded to a distress call on the abduction of civilians from Fafala Village in Kangiwa LGA.
Acting on credible intelligence, the troops launched a fighting patrol towards Fafala and Dandikwa where they made contact with the terrorists.
“Troops engaged them in a heavy exchange of fire, forcing the terrorists to withdraw in disarray. Subsequent exploitation of the area led to the rescue of 21 kidnapped victims, who were later reunited with their families,” Danja stated.
He added that troops recorded another major success on September 15 in Katsina State following intelligence on a planned attack on communities in Matazu and Kankara LGAs.
The troops stormed the terrorists’ hideout and overpowered them, killing two fighters.
“One of the terrorists neutralised was Abbah Alhassan, a known terrorist kingpin. Other members of the group fled into the surrounding bush during the encounter,” he said.
Items recovered from the hideout include 10 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle, a cutlass, camouflage uniforms and wraps of Indian hemp.
In a follow-up operation on the same day, troops arrested two suspected terrorists in the Yantumaki area of Dan Musa LGA, Katsina State.
“Preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspects were associated with a terrorist kingpin known as Mannori. They are in custody for further investigation,” Danja added.
The Joint Task Force reassured residents of its commitment to dismantling terrorist networks in the North-West and urged the public to report suspicious movements to security agencies.
