Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
On the afternoon of Monday, May 4, 2026, a team of Quick Reaction Force from the 17 Brigade, deployed at Forward Operating Base Matazu in Katsina State, received a desperate distress call. The message was urgent: terrorists had waylaid commuters along the Karaduwa‑Matazu road in Matazu Local Government Area. Without hesitation, the troops mobilised and raced to the scene. But by the time they arrived, the terrorists had already fled, having spotted the advancing soldiers from a distance. However, the troops did not simply return to base. They launched a hot pursuit along the escape route, tracking the criminals deep into the surrounding bush. Though no direct contact was established, the relentless chase forced the terrorists to abandon their operation.
When the troops returned to the scene, they conducted a thorough search of the general area. Their efforts paid off. They discovered an ash‑coloured Volkswagen Golf car with registration number KJA 743 FP and chassis number XWVW7771H7RR112476. The vehicle had been travelling from Kafin‑Soli to Matazu when the terrorists struck. The occupants were nowhere to be found. Whether they were abducted or managed to escape into the bush remains unclear, but the recovery of the vehicle preserved critical evidence and potentially saved the victims from total loss. The troops handed over the recovered Golf car to the Divisional Police Officer of Matazu, SP Ahmed Hamisu, for further action. The security situation in the general area remains calm, while monitoring continues.
Matazu Local Government Area has been one of the flashpoints of banditry and terrorism in Katsina State. In recent months, the area has witnessed repeated attacks, kidnappings, and extortion of rural farming communities. Just days before this operation, bandits imposed a N10 million levy on seven villages in Matazu LGA, including Bauraji, Saba Sara, and Doka. The terrorists have shown a pattern of ambushing commuters along key roads, including the Karaduwa‑Matazu route, which connects several agrarian communities to the local government headquarters. The quick reaction by the military is therefore a significant relief for residents who have grown accustomed to seeing criminals operate with impunity.
The recovery of the abandoned vehicle is being hailed by locals as a small but important victory. A community leader who spoke on condition of anonymity told Stone Reporters News, “We have been living in fear. Every time we hear of an attack, we pray it is not our family member. When the soldiers chased those terrorists away, we felt hope again. The fact that they recovered a vehicle means the criminals did not get away with everything.” The leader also called on the military to sustain the pressure and extend operations into the forest hideouts that serve as sanctuaries for the bandits.
The Nigerian Army has not issued a formal statement on this specific operation, but military sources confirmed that the Quick Reaction Force acted on actionable intelligence and demonstrated commendable speed. The sources also noted that the troops have been conducting regular patrols and ambushes along major roads in Matazu and neighbouring local government areas as part of Operation Fansan Yamma, the ongoing counter‑terrorism campaign in the North‑West.
The handover of the recovered vehicle to the police signals a collaborative approach between the military and civil law enforcement. The police will now attempt to trace the vehicle’s owner, determine the fate of the commuters, and use the evidence to build a case against the terrorist network operating in the area. The chassis number and registration details have been entered into the national database of stolen and recovered vehicles.
For the people of Matazu, the news of the successful pursuit and recovery brought a measure of calm. But they know that the terrorists are still out there, regrouping, waiting for the next opportunity. The military has urged residents to continue providing timely information, as intelligence remains the most effective weapon against asymmetric warfare. The troops stationed at Forward Operating Base Matazu have vowed to remain on high alert, ready to respond to any distress call within minutes.
As the sun set over Karaduwa‑Matazu road, the ash‑coloured Golf sat in police custody, a silent witness to a foiled attack. And while the terrorists escaped this time, the message has been sent: the days of free movement for criminals in Matazu are coming to an end. The community breathes a little easier tonight, grateful for soldiers who do not give up the chase.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments