Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, operating under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 48 kidnapped victims after engaging terrorists in a fierce gun battle in Magami village, Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The operation was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja.
According to the military, the rescue mission began in the early hours of Saturday after troops received a distress call reporting that a large group of armed terrorists had invaded the village.
The attackers, reportedly riding about 40 motorcycles, rounded up several residents with the intention of taking them into the forest, while another group remained outside the village with the motorcycles.
On receiving the alert, troops from Sector 2 immediately moved to the area and confronted the terrorists in a fierce exchange of gunfire.
The military said the swift response forced the attackers to flee into the surrounding bush, abandoning all 48 kidnapped victims.
Despite the successful rescue, one civilian was killed during the attack, while two others suffered gunshot injuries. The injured victims were taken to the General Hospital in Kaura Namoda, where they are currently receiving treatment.
Following the operation, troops carried out aggressive patrols across the area to prevent the terrorists from regrouping or launching another attack.
The Theatre Command praised the courage and professionalism of the soldiers involved in the operation and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property across the North-West.
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The military also urged residents to continue providing timely and reliable information to security agencies, saying public cooperation remains vital in the fight against terrorism and banditry.
Zamfara is one of the states worst affected by bandit attacks and mass kidnappings in Nigeria's North-West. Armed groups have continued to target rural communities, abduct residents for ransom and launch deadly attacks despite ongoing military offensives.
Operation FANSAN YAMMA is one of the military's joint security operations established to combat terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes across the region. Recent months have seen intensified operations aimed at dismantling criminal camps and restoring security.
