By Taibat Ummi Yakubu

Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have killed eight suspected terrorists and rescued three kidnap victims during separate security operations in Katsina, Kaduna and Zamfara states.

The operations, conducted on October 24 and Sunday, also resulted in the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, three locally fabricated guns, three motorcycles, cutlasses and assorted charms.

The Media Information Officer of the joint task force, Capt. Tamuno Sinivie, disclosed the developments in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna on Monday.

Sinivie said troops in Katsina State launched an operation on October 24 after receiving a distress call from farmers who reported suspected terrorist activities around Machika Dam in Sabuwa Local Government Area.

According to him, the soldiers swiftly moved to the area and engaged the armed men in a gun battle, killing two suspects while others escaped.

During the operation, the troops also rescued a 42-year-old kidnap victim, Suleiman Umar.

A subsequent search of the area led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, a magazine containing ammunition and a motorcycle believed to have been abandoned by the fleeing suspects.

In a separate operation in Kaduna State on the same day, troops working alongside members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) foiled an ambush along Ungwan Iya in Igabi Local Government Area, killing six suspected terrorists.

Sinivie explained that the operation followed a distress call reporting an attack on Ungwan Mallami village, where suspected armed men had abducted two people.

He said the troops pursued the attackers but came under fire along the way. The soldiers responded with superior firepower, killing six of the suspected terrorists, while the remaining members of the group fled.

The operation led to the recovery of three locally manufactured firearms, two motorcycles, cutlasses and assorted charms.

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Meanwhile, troops operating in Zamfara State rescued two additional kidnap victims during a surveillance operation in Bagega, Anka Local Government Area, on Sunday.

The victims were identified as Shehu Chete, 40, and Bugu Bedi, 25, both from Kebbi State.

According to the military spokesperson, the troops spotted the activities of suspected terrorists during surveillance and immediately deployed a fighting patrol to the area.

The armed men reportedly fled after sighting the advancing troops, abandoning the two captives, who were subsequently rescued.

The victims were taken to Bagega Clinic for medical attention before being transferred to a military base for further assessment and eventual reunion with their families.

Sinivie said troops were continuing patrols and search operations across the affected communities to track down the fleeing suspects, rescue other captives and prevent further attacks.

The Theatre Commander of Operation Fansan Yamma commended the troops for their courage and resilience in responding to the incidents.

The commander also called on residents to support security operations by providing timely and credible information about suspicious movements and activities in their communities.

The latest operations come amid continuing security challenges across parts of the North-West, where armed groups have carried out attacks, abductions and raids on rural communities.

Although the reported killings and rescues represent the outcome of the latest military operations, the search for the fleeing suspects remains ongoing, according to the task force.