Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 31 kidnapped victims and neutralised two terrorists, including a suspected kingpin, during separate operations conducted on September 14 and 15, 2026, in Katsina and Kebbi states. The troops also arrested two suspected terrorists in Katsina State as part of the coordinated operations that further degraded the operational capacity of criminal networks in the North-West.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North-West, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed the developments in a statement issued on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. According to Danja, troops of Sector 2 were deployed to Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State on September 14 following reports that terrorists had abducted civilians from Unguwan Daudu and Unguwan Chibauna communities. The troops immediately launched a hot pursuit of the attackers and engaged them in a gun battle, forcing them to flee. The operation resulted in the rescue of 10 victims, comprising three males and seven females, including an infant. The rescued victims were taken into military custody for further action before being reunited with their families.
On the same day, troops operating in Kebbi State responded to a distress call over the abduction of civilians from Fafala Village in Kangiwa Local Government Area. Acting on credible intelligence, the troops conducted a fighting patrol towards Fafala and Dandikwa, where they made contact with the terrorists. A heavy exchange of fire ensued, forcing the terrorists to withdraw in disarray. Subsequent exploitation of the area led to the rescue of 21 kidnapped victims, who were later reunited with their families. The successful rescue of 21 victims in a single operation is a testament to the troops' swift response and the effectiveness of the intelligence that guided the mission.
The operations continued on September 15 when troops in Katsina State received intelligence about plans by terrorists to attack communities in Matazu and Kankara Local Government Areas. Troops mobilised to the suspected hideout and engaged the terrorists with superior firepower, killing two of them. One of the terrorists neutralised was identified as Abbah Alhassan, a known terrorist kingpin whose elimination represents a significant blow to the leadership structure of the criminal network operating in the area. Other members of the group fled into the surrounding bush during the encounter. Items recovered from the hideout included 10 rounds of ammunition, one motorcycle, one cutlass, camouflage clothing and Indian hemp, among other items.
In a separate operation on the same day, troops arrested two suspected terrorists in the Yantumaki general area of Dan Musa Local Government Area of Katsina State. Preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspects were associated with a terrorist kingpin known as Mannori. The suspects are currently in military custody and will undergo further investigation to establish the full extent of their involvement in terrorist activities. The arrest of the two suspects and the killing of Abbah Alhassan are part of a broader pattern of sustained military pressure that has forced terrorists in the North-West to operate under increasingly difficult conditions.
The operations underscore the continued efforts of Operation FANSAN YAMMA to rescue kidnapped victims, disrupt terrorist networks and deny armed groups freedom of action across the North-West. The Joint Task Force has maintained a relentless tempo of operations across Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kaduna states, targeting terrorist enclaves, logistics networks and kidnap operations. The killing of a known kingpin and the rescue of 31 victims in a 48-hour window demonstrate the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations and the growing capacity of the military to respond rapidly to threats across the vast terrain of the North-West.
The North-West has been the epicentre of Nigeria's kidnapping crisis, with armed groups operating from forest hideouts and launching attacks on rural communities, travellers and farmers. According to data from SBM Intelligence, more than 7,800 kidnapping victims were recorded across the country between July 2025 and June 2026, with over N7.8 billion paid as ransom. The North accounted for 93.7 per cent of all abductions, with Zamfara, Katsina and Sokoto states recording the highest numbers of victims. The operations conducted by Operation FANSAN YAMMA are part of a broader national strategy to combat the scourge, but the persistence of attacks suggests that much work remains to be done.
The Joint Task Force has consistently urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest security agency. The military has also emphasised the critical role of community cooperation in tracking criminal elements and preventing attacks. The rescue of 31 victims in Fafala and Funtua, and the killing of a terrorist kingpin in Matazu, would not have been possible without credible intelligence from the communities that have suffered at the hands of these criminals. The message from the Theatre Command is clear: the pressure on terrorist networks will not relent, and those who continue to terrorise innocent citizens will face the full weight of the law.
For the 31 victims rescued during these operations, the nightmare of captivity is over. They have been reunited with their families and given the chance to rebuild their lives. For the families of the terrorists killed and arrested, the military has demonstrated that the long arm of the law can reach even the most entrenched criminal networks. And for the people of Katsina and Kebbi states, the operations offer a measure of hope that the security situation may finally be turning. But the fight is far from over, and the next operation will begin as soon as the intelligence is received. The troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA remain on the front lines, committed to protecting lives, disrupting criminal activities and restoring peace across the North-West.
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