Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued two kidnapped victims and recovered 94 rustled livestock during separate operations in Kaduna and Kano states.
The operations, conducted on August 25 and 26, 2026, also disrupted terrorist activities across the Joint Operations Area.
In a statement, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said troops of Sector 1 conducting a clearance operation in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State encountered terrorists who attempted to ambush the advancing troops.
The troops responded with superior firepower, forcing the terrorists to flee. A motorcycle abandoned by the fleeing terrorists was recovered during the subsequent exploitation of the area.
In another operation, troops responded swiftly to a distress call over the abduction of three civilians and the rustling of livestock around Hayin Babangida in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The troops tracked and engaged the terrorists, leading to the successful rescue of two female victims, who were subsequently reunited with their families.
However, the third victim, a male, was found with a gunshot wound inflicted by the terrorists and died while being evacuated for medical attention.
Similarly, troops responded to reports of terrorist activities in Gwarzo Local Government Area of Kano State, where terrorists had rustled livestock from a community.
Troops pursued the fleeing terrorists and made contact with them as they attempted to escape from the area. Overwhelmed by the troops’ superior firepower, the terrorists fled in disarray, abandoning the rustled animals.
Further exploitation of the area on August 26 led to the recovery of additional livestock, bringing the total number recovered to 94, comprising 57 cows and 37 sheep.
The recovered livestock were subsequently handed over to their rightful owners in the presence of representatives of security agencies and local government authorities.
The Joint Task Force said the operations underscored the determination of Operation FANSAN YAMMA to sustain pressure on terrorist and criminal elements while protecting lives and livelihoods across the North West.
It added that troops would continue to take the fight to criminal elements through intelligence-driven operations, aggressive patrols and rapid response to threats against communities.
The Joint Task Force also commended members of the public for their continued support and urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely and credible information on suspicious activities to security forces.
According to the task force, such cooperation remains vital to ongoing efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and restore lasting peace and security across the North West region.
