Troops rescue kidnap victim, recover 126 rustled livestock in Katsina

Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, JTF NW OPFY, have rescued a kidnap victim and recovered 126 rustled livestock in Katsina State.

This is contained in a statement by the Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force (North West) Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt-Col Aliyu Danja, on Tuesday.

According to the statement, troops also arrested suspects and recovered a locally fabricated weapon.

It said that in the early hours of 26 July 2026, troops, in conjunction with the Katsina State Community Watch Corps, troops responded to a distress call reporting terrorist activity at Karkata Village, Charanchi Local Government Area of the state.

The statement added that while advancing to the scene, the troops made contact with the terrorists and engaged them with superior firepower, forcing the criminals to abandon their kidnapped victim before fleeing into the surrounding bushes.

“The victim was rescued unharmed and reunited with her family. In a separate operation, troops of Sector 2, working alongside personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), conducted coordinated raids at Wagin, Tundu Mobi, and Chadawaki in Batsari Local Government Area.

“The operation led to the arrest of suspects and recovery of a locally fabricated weapon with five cartridges, among other exhibits. The suspects and recovered items have been handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation.

“Also, on 26 July 2026, troops acting on credible intelligence laid an ambush along a suspected terrorists’ crossing point at Yankwani Village, Bakori Local Government Area, engaging suspected terrorists attempting to move rustled livestock across the area.

“The terrorists fled under sustained pressure, abandoning 126 livestock comprising 83 cows and 43 sheeps. The recovered animals were handed over to the Chairman of the Peace Keeping Committee, Bakori, in the presence of local government officials, for identification and return to their rightful owners.

“The Theatre Commander, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, commends the gallantry and vigilance of the troops behind these successes and reassures the good people of Katsina State and the North West of the Command’s unwavering resolve to sustain offensive operations against terrorists in the region,” the statement said.