Troops of the Nigerian Army serving under Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued two kidnapped men during a security operation around Bagega in Zamfara State, marking another intervention by military personnel combating kidnapping and armed violence in Nigeria's North-West region. The rescued men, both residents of neighbouring Kebbi State, were evacuated for medical attention following the operation.
The rescue took place on Monday, October 26, 2026, in the Bagega area of Zamfara State. Military sources identified the victims as Shehu Chete, aged 40, and Bugu Bedi, aged 25, both from Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The troops reportedly carried out a search operation after receiving information about suspicious movements involving suspected terrorists in the area.
According to the military account reported by Daily Post, soldiers mobilised following the security information and conducted a search that resulted in the recovery of the two kidnapped persons. The report did not establish how long the men had been held captive or identify the armed group responsible for their abduction.
The rescued men were subsequently evacuated for medical attention. Military sources said they were receiving the necessary care, although details of their physical condition, the nature of any injuries and the medical facility involved were not disclosed.
The circumstances of their original abduction also remain unclear. Available information does not establish when or where Chete and Bedi were kidnapped, whether ransom demands were made or whether their captors had contacted their families before the military intervention.
No arrests or recoveries of weapons were confirmed in the account of the latest operation. The military also did not disclose whether the soldiers encountered armed resistance while searching the Bagega area.
Security personnel were reported to have maintained their deployment in the area following the rescue. According to the military account, operations were continuing to protect residents and prevent further criminal activity.
The latest development follows a series of rescue operations conducted by Operation FANSAN YAMMA across Zamfara and neighbouring states. The joint military operation forms part of efforts to counter armed groups involved in kidnapping, attacks on communities and other security threats in northwestern Nigeria.
On October 21, troops operating under Sector 2 rescued four kidnapped persons during separate operations in Zamfara and Kebbi states. The Nigerian Army subsequently confirmed the development through Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, spokesman for the 8 Division and Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA.
In Zamfara, soldiers rescued two people identified as Mansur Shehu, aged 25, and Kadijat Haruna, aged 49, following a response to a reported terrorist incident on farmland in Binoni Marafa, Maru Local Government Area.
The operation in Kebbi State involved two other victims, Jimoh Su-Arege, aged 35, and Kalahe Danjuma, aged 41. Troops conducted a search-and-rescue operation between Bena and Sawade after receiving reports that suspected terrorists were moving with kidnapped persons from Dipindu village in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area.
Military authorities said the two rescued persons were subsequently handed over to the Seriki of Dipindu. The army also reported intensified patrols and surveillance intended to restrict the movements of armed groups and prevent further attacks.
Another operation was reported in Kebbi State on October 24, when troops rescued three kidnapped females in Sakaba Local Government Area. The victims were identified as Aisha Aminu, aged 46, Sumayya Aminu, aged 27, and Nana Abbas, aged 15.
According to a statement attributed to Lieutenant Colonel Osoba, two of the victims were rescued in Makuku village, while the third was recovered in Dankolo village. The military said the operation was completed without incident and that the victims were handed over to the District Head of Dirindaji, Alhaji Usman Muhammad, through the chairman of Sakaba Local Government Area.
Earlier military operations around Bagega have also resulted in the recovery of kidnapped civilians. On June 22, troops conducting a routine offensive patrol in the area rescued three women who, according to the military, had been abandoned by their captors following sustained pressure from security forces.
The women were identified as Zainab Muhammadu, aged 28, from Gara Zaima village in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State; Hafsat Ibrahim, aged 20; and Halira Usman, aged 17, both from the Mashiga/Taka Lafiya area of Zuru Local Government Area in Kebbi State.
Military authorities said the three women had spent approximately three months in captivity before their rescue. They were evacuated for medical evaluation and appropriate care.
In May, troops also rescued 31 kidnapped persons during operations around the Bagega–Kawaye axis in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The operation followed an air intervention targeting suspected terrorist positions and subsequent ground activity around the western section of Bagega Forest.
The military said those rescued included people from communities across Zamfara, Kebbi and neighbouring areas. The operation formed part of coordinated security activities across Zamfara and Katsina states, during which troops also reported the destruction of suspected terrorist camps and the recovery of weapons.
These earlier incidents demonstrate that the Bagega area has featured repeatedly in military operations involving kidnapped civilians. However, the previously reported rescues are separate incidents and should not be confused with the latest operation involving Chete and Bedi.
The security situation across parts of northwestern Nigeria remains a concern for communities affected by kidnapping and armed attacks. Military operations have resulted in the rescue of abducted persons, while security agencies continue to conduct patrols, respond to intelligence reports and pursue suspected criminal groups.
For the two men rescued on October 26, the immediate development is their recovery from captivity and evacuation for medical attention. Further information about their abduction, treatment and eventual reunion with their families has not yet been established in the available reporting.
The Nigerian Army has maintained that its personnel will continue operations aimed at protecting civilians and restricting the activities of armed groups. The latest rescue adds to the documented interventions by Operation FANSAN YAMMA in Zamfara and Kebbi states as security forces continue efforts to address kidnapping across the region.
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