Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued 25 people abducted by terrorists during separate operations in Katsina and Zamfara states.
The victims, comprising 23 civilians rescued in Zamfara and two others freed in Katsina, were recovered on Thursday as troops of Operation Fansan Yamma conducted patrols and offensive operations across the North-West.
Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North-West), confirmed the development in a statement issued on Friday.
In Katsina State, troops on a night patrol around Kwanar Kura in Sabuwa Local Government Area encountered terrorists, resulting in a gun battle.
According to the statement, the sustained pressure from the troops forced the terrorists to retreat into the surrounding bushes.
The soldiers subsequently pursued the fleeing terrorists along their escape routes and rescued two victims who had been abducted along the Dandume-Damari road.
Two motorcycles reportedly abandoned by the terrorists were also recovered during the operation.
Similarly, troops of Sector 2, while conducting a fighting patrol around Wuya Town in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State, rescued 23 abducted civilians.
Danja said the rescued victims comprised three men and 20 women who were abducted from Gummi Local Government Area and had spent about three weeks in terrorist captivity.
“Preliminary debriefing revealed that the victims were abducted from Gummi Local Government Area and had been held in terrorist captivity for approximately three weeks,” the statement said.
Following their rescue, the victims were taken to a medical facility for treatment before undergoing further debriefing by the authorities.
Danja said the operations demonstrated the military’s continued commitment to protecting civilians and dismantling terrorist networks operating within the joint operations area.
He added that troops would sustain their offensive operations and patrols to restrict the movement of terrorists and prevent them from operating freely across the region.
