Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued four kidnapped victims during an intensified offensive operation targeting the criminal network of notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani, in Katsina State.
The rescue was achieved under Operation Clean Sweep III, an ongoing counter-banditry campaign aimed at dismantling terrorist hideouts and restoring security in communities affected by bandit attacks across the state.
This was made known in a statement by the Nigerian Army and shared on its Facebook page on Wednesday.
According to the statement, troops of the 17 Brigade Strike Group/Quick Response Force, supported by personnel of the 8 Division Special Forces, launched a deliberate assault on terrorist enclaves in Fafu Village along the Matazu–Musawa axis on Tuesday, June 16.
It was gathered that the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma conducted intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions over the area, providing troops with real-time information on the location of the terrorists’ camp.
The military stated that troops engaged the bandits in a fierce firefight.
A subsequent exploitation of the camp led to the successful rescue of four kidnapped 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 of Sector 2, Operation Fansan Yamma, Major General B.P. Koughna.
The senior military officer reassured the victims of their safety and reaffirmed the military’s commitment to eliminating banditry and restoring lasting peace across Katsina State.
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Some of the rescued victims were found to have sustained gunshot wounds allegedly inflicted by their abductors during captivity.
They received emergency medical attention before being transferred to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, for specialist treatment.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were abducted on April 14, 2026, along the Matazu–Karaduwa Road in Sabon Sara.
The military further disclosed that the victims had been held captive alongside the late Major General Rabe Abubakar (retd.) and his wife, who were abducted by bandits in the area.
The Nigerian Army said troops are continuing efforts to track down Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani and other members of his network.
The military pledged to sustain aggressive operations until those responsible for attacks, kidnappings and other violent crimes in the state are either apprehended or neutralised.
The military reiterated its commitment, in collaboration with other security agencies, to ensuring that terrorists and bandits are denied safe havens and that affected communities can return to normal life.
