Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have rescued 27 people abducted by terrorists in Katsina State following a gun battle in Sabuwa Local Government Area.
The victims, made up of 15 males and 12 females, were kidnapped from Gamji community before the military received a distress call and launched a rescue operation on October 16, 2026.
The task force’s Media Information Officer, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday.
According to Danja, the troops tracked the terrorists along the Gangare-Kamba axis and engaged them in a gun battle, forcing them to abandon the captives and escape.
“On contact, troops engaged with superior firepower, forcing the terrorists to abandon their victims and flee in disarray,” he said.
He stated that all 27 victims were found and rescued unharmed during a subsequent search of the area.
The rescued individuals were profiled by the military before being handed over to community leaders to reunite them with their families.
In a separate operation carried out the same day, troops on a fighting patrol near Kurba village in Kankara Local Government Area encountered suspected terrorists travelling on three motorcycles.
Danja said the suspects fled after sighting the soldiers, leaving one motorcycle behind.
He noted that the operations reflected the task force’s continued efforts to weaken terrorist activities and protect vulnerable communities across its area of responsibility.
“The Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, commends troops for their gallantry and swift response,” the statement added.
The theatre commander also assured residents of Katsina, Zamfara and neighbouring states that the military remained committed to restoring lasting peace and security.
The rescue comes amid ongoing military operations against terrorism, kidnapping and other security challenges affecting communities across Nigeria’s North-West region.