Terrorists Flee, Leave Captives Behind as Military Unleashes Heavy Offensive in Katsina
.......Troops Rescue Four Kidnap Victims as Army Intensifies Hunt for Notorious Katsina Bandit Kingpin
By Passman Akpos
The Nigerian Army has recorded another significant success in its ongoing counter-banditry operations in Katsina State, rescuing four kidnapped victims during a coordinated offensive targeting notorious bandit leader Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani and his criminal network.
The operation, conducted under Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, took place on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, when 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 hideouts located in Fafu Village along the Matazu-Musawa axis of Katsina State
Military authorities disclosed that prior to the ground operation, the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA carried out Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions over the area, enabling troops to accurately identify the terrorists’ camp and plan a precise offensive.
Upon reaching the enclave, troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce firefight, deploying overwhelming firepower that forced the criminals to abandon their positions and flee into surrounding areas. The fleeing bandits reportedly left behind their captives, allowing troops to secure and rescue four abducted victims during a follow-up exploitation of the camp.
The rescued victims were immediately evacuated to the Forward Operating Base in Matazu, where they were received by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division and Commander Sector 2 of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General BP Koughna.
Major General Koughna reassured the victims of their safety and reiterated the military’s determination to restore peace and security across Katsina State and the wider North-West region.
According to military sources, some of the rescued victims had sustained gunshot wounds inflicted by their captors during their period in captivity. They were provided immediate medical treatment before being transferred to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, for advanced care and management.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were abducted on April 14, 2026, along the Matazu-Karaduwa Road in Sabon Sara. They were reportedly held captive alongside the late Major General Rabe Abubakar (retd) and his wife, who were kidnapped in the same incident.
The Nigerian Army said troops remain in active pursuit of Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani and other members of his criminal network, vowing to sustain aggressive operations until all those responsible for acts of terrorism, kidnapping, and violence against innocent citizens are apprehended or neutralized.
Military authorities reaffirmed their commitment, alongside other security agencies, to ensuring that terrorists and bandits have no safe haven anywhere within the country.
