Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued a 40-year-old kidnapping victim, recovered 18 stolen cattle and arrested four suspected drug dealers during separate security operations in Kebbi State, following coordinated interventions involving local vigilantes and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The operations were conducted on Sunday, October 18, 2026, in Danko-Wasagu and Maiyama Local Government Areas of the state. The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Monday, October 19, by Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
According to Danja, troops of Sector 2 responded to a distress call from Rambo Village in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area after suspected terrorists reportedly invaded the community with the intention of abducting residents and stealing livestock.
The military spokesperson explained that soldiers, working alongside local vigilantes, immediately mobilised to the affected community following the report.
Upon arriving in the area, the security personnel encountered the suspected attackers and engaged them in a gunfight, forcing them to withdraw.
The operation resulted in the rescue of Suleiman Maiyaki Ikara, a 40-year-old resident who had reportedly been abducted during the attack.
The troops also recovered 18 cattle allegedly stolen by the armed men during the invasion.
Danja confirmed that the rescued resident and the recovered livestock were subsequently handed over to the District Head of Rambo Village for further action.
The military did not disclose whether any of the suspected attackers were killed, injured or arrested during the confrontation. No casualties were reported among the troops or local vigilantes in the official statement.
In a separate operation conducted on the same day, troops of Sector 2 collaborated with NDLEA personnel to raid suspected drug trafficking locations in three communities within Maiyama Local Government Area.
The affected communities were identified as Dakin Kowa, Karaye and Gubba, where security operatives carried out coordinated operations targeting individuals suspected of involvement in illicit drug distribution.
According to the military, the raids resulted in the arrest of four suspects and the recovery of substances believed to be illicit drugs.
The identities of the arrested individuals were not disclosed, while the military statement did not specify the types or quantities of substances recovered.
Danja said the suspects and recovered materials had been handed over to the NDLEA Command in Maiyama for further investigation and necessary legal action.
The arrests remain allegations at this stage, and the individuals are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless their involvement in criminal offences is established through the judicial process.
The military spokesperson reaffirmed the Joint Task Force's commitment to sustaining operations against armed groups and other criminal networks operating within its area of responsibility.
He said the task force would continue efforts to protect communities, disrupt criminal activities and strengthen security across the North-West.
The Joint Task Force also acknowledged the assistance provided by residents and local security volunteers, stressing the importance of cooperation between communities and security agencies.
Danja encouraged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information that could help security personnel prevent attacks, respond to emergencies and identify suspected criminal activities.
The latest operations come amid continuing security challenges in parts of Kebbi State, where communities have experienced kidnapping, cattle rustling and attacks attributed to armed groups.
On October 7, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA repelled an attack on a Forward Operating Base in Maiyama Local Government Area by suspected members of the Lakurawa armed group. The military reported recovering weapons, ammunition and motorcycles after the attackers withdrew.
The earlier incident was separate from Sunday's operations, and the military has not identified the armed men involved in the Rambo Village attack as members of Lakurawa or any other specific organisation.
The rescue of Ikara and recovery of the stolen cattle represent the immediate outcomes reported by the military following its intervention in Danko-Wasagu.
Meanwhile, the transfer of the four drug suspects to the NDLEA places the separate investigation under the responsibility of the agency, which is expected to determine whether the recovered substances and available evidence justify prosecution.
As of Monday, October 19, the military had not announced further arrests connected to the Rambo Village attack or provided additional information concerning the fleeing assailants.
The Joint Task Force maintained that operations would continue across its area of responsibility as security agencies seek to protect vulnerable communities and respond to criminal activities in the region.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments