Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 27 kidnapped victims, foiled multiple abduction attempts, and recovered stolen livestock and motorcycles during a series of coordinated operations across Sokoto and Zamfara states.
The operations, conducted between July 20 and 21, 2026, were part of the military’s sustained offensive against terrorist and criminal groups operating in the North West.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday night by the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt. Aliyu Danja, troops of the Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) Shagari and Sifawa acted on credible intelligence on July 20 and swiftly deployed to Wanke and Kaura communities in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State following reports of terrorist activities.
It was gathered that the troops encountered the terrorists and engaged them in a fierce firefight.
The operation also resulted in the recovery of stolen livestock and two motorcycles.
The rescued victims were subsequently reunited with their families.
In a separate operation on the same day, troops deployed at Gandi, in collaboration with the State Security Community Guard Corps, rescued 10 kidnapped victims who had escaped from their captors.
The victims, comprising men, women, and children, were found wandering in the bush around Badanma community in Gandi Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The military stated that the victims were handed over to community leaders before being reunited with their families.
On July 21, troops of Combat Team 12 responded to a distress call after terrorists reportedly blocked the Gummi–Sokoto highway in an attempt to abduct commuters.
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The troops swiftly engaged the attackers, forcing them to abandon their operation and flee. During the pursuit, the soldiers rescued 11 kidnapped persons and recovered one motorcycle used during the attack.
The successful operations brought the total number of rescued victims to 27 within two days.
Commending the troops, the Theatre Command praised their vigilance, professionalism, and rapid response, describing the operations as another significant setback for terrorist groups operating in the North West.
The command also expressed appreciation to members of the public for providing timely and credible intelligence that contributed to the successful operations.
It urged residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting security agencies with useful information as ongoing military operations intensify efforts to dismantle terrorist and criminal networks across the theatre.
