Troops of the 17 Brigade, under the Joint Task Force Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued nine kidnapped victims who escaped from a terrorists’ hideout after reportedly taking advantage of their captors falling asleep in Katsina State.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja.
According to the statement, the victims were intercepted by troops conducting a routine foot patrol at about 8:30 a.m. on July 15, 2026, at Anguwan Doka in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The rescued victims comprised three women, four men and two young children.
During preliminary interrogation, the victims revealed that they were abducted by armed terrorists along the Tsafe–Kuchere Road in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
They told the troops that they escaped after the guards at the terrorists’ camp reportedly fell asleep, allowing them to flee unnoticed. The victims trekked for several hours before encountering the military patrol.
The victims, all natives of Kuchere village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, have since been taken into protective custody. Military authorities said arrangements are underway to hand them over to the appropriate authorities for reunification with their families.
Commending the troops for their professionalism, vigilance and resilience, the Theatre Commander of Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, praised their sustained efforts in combating terrorism and other criminal activities across the North-West.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Joint Task Force to intensify intelligence-led operations in collaboration with other security agencies and law-abiding citizens until terrorism, banditry and other forms of criminality are decisively eliminated from the region.
