Troops of the 17 Brigade have rescued nine kidnapping victims who escaped from a terrorist hideout after their captors reportedly fell asleep in Katsina State.
The rescue operation was confirmed by Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, in a statement issued on Friday, 17 July 2026.
According to the statement, the victims were intercepted at about 8:30am on 15 July 2026 by troops conducting a foot patrol at Anguwan Doka in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The rescued individuals comprised three women, four men and two children.
During preliminary questioning, the victims revealed that they had been abducted by armed terrorists along the Tsafe–Kuchere road in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
They told troops that they escaped after their captors and guards at the terrorist enclave fell asleep. The victims then trekked through the area until they were located by the patrol team.
The victims identified themselves as residents of Kuchere village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The military has placed the rescued victims in protective custody, while arrangements are being made with relevant authorities for their formal handover and reunification with their families.
The Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, praised the troops for their professionalism, vigilance and commitment in maintaining pressure on criminal groups operating in the region.
He also reaffirmed the task force’s commitment to sustaining intelligence-led operations in collaboration with other security agencies and local communities, with the aim of defeating terrorism and other forms of criminality across the North West.
