By Taibat Ummi Yakubu

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West under Operation Fansan Yamma (OPFY) have rescued 25 kidnapped victims during coordinated operations against terrorists in Katsina and Zamfara states, reinforcing ongoing efforts to combat insecurity across the region.

The successful operations were disclosed in a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, and made available to journalists in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.

According to the statement, troops operating under Sector 1 recorded a breakthrough in Katsina State while conducting a night patrol along the Kwanar Kura axis in Sabuwa Local Government Area.

During the operation, the troops reportedly encountered a group of terrorists and engaged them in a fierce gun battle. Faced with intense military firepower, the armed criminals abandoned their position and fled into nearby bushes.

The troops immediately launched a pursuit operation along the terrorists' escape routes, leading to the rescue of two kidnapped victims who had earlier been abducted along the Dandume–Damari Road.

Security personnel also recovered two motorcycles believed to have been used by the fleeing terrorists.

In a separate operation in Zamfara State, troops attached to Sector 2 rescued 23 abducted civilians during a fighting patrol around the outskirts of Wuya town in Anka Local Government Area.

The rescued victims comprised three men and 20 women who had reportedly endured weeks in captivity.

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Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were abducted from communities in Gummi Local Government Area and had been held by terrorists for approximately three weeks before their rescue.

Following the operation, the victims were evacuated to a safe location where they received medical attention and underwent further debriefing by security authorities.

Military authorities described the rescues as another indication of the commitment of Operation Fansan Yamma troops to protecting communities, dismantling terrorist networks and securing the release of citizens held captive by criminal groups.

The statement noted that the operation reflects the determination and responsiveness of security forces in confronting security threats across the Joint Operations Area.

It added that troops remain committed to sustaining aggressive operations aimed at denying terrorists freedom of movement, disrupting their activities and restoring safety to affected communities in the North-West.

The latest rescue comes amid intensified military offensives across Katsina, Zamfara and other states in the region, where security agencies continue to target terrorist hideouts, rescue abducted persons and curb the activities of armed groups threatening peace and stability.