By Harriet Tornguvan
Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued four kidnap victims during ongoing counter-banditry operations in Katsina State as security forces intensify efforts to dismantle the criminal network of notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani.
The rescue was achieved during Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, a sustained military campaign targeting terrorist hideouts and criminal elements operating across the state.
According to military authorities, troops of the 17 Brigade Strike Group/Quick Response Force, supported by troops of the 8 Division Special Forces, launched a deliberate offensive on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, against terrorist enclaves located in Fafu Village along the Matazu-Musawa axis.
The operation was preceded by Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions conducted by the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, which enabled troops to accurately identify and dominate the terrorists’ stronghold before the ground assault commenced.
During the operation, troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce firefight, bringing overwhelming firepower to bear on the criminals. Unable to withstand the military pressure, the terrorists reportedly fled in disarray, abandoning their camp and several captives.
A subsequent exploitation of the hideout led to the successful rescue of four abducted victims.
The rescued victims were immediately evacuated to the Forward Operating Base in Matazu, where they were received by the General Officer Commanding 8 Division and Commander, Sector 2 Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General B.P. Koughna.
The senior military officer reassured the victims of their safety and reiterated the commitment of security forces to restoring peace and security across Katsina State and its environs.
Some of the rescued victims, who sustained gunshot wounds allegedly inflicted by their captors during their period of captivity, received emergency medical treatment before being transferred to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, for specialized care.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were abducted on April 14, 2026, from Sabon Sara along the Matazu-Karaduwa Road. They were reportedly held captive alongside the late Major General Rabe Abubakar (retd.) and his wife.
Military authorities stated that troops remain in active pursuit of Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani and other members of his criminal syndicate, stressing that offensive operations will continue until all perpetrators of terror and banditry are apprehended or neutralised.
The Nigerian Army reaffirmed its commitment, in collaboration with other security agencies, to ensuring that terrorists and bandits are denied safe havens and that communities across the region can live in peace and security.
