Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have rescued six kidnapped victims during separate operations in Kaduna and Katsina states, according to the Joint Task Force North-West.
The rescues took place on Thursday, September 17, 2026, following intelligence-led operations in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State and along the Dandume-Damari axis in Katsina State.
In Kaduna, troops of Sector 1 responded to information about a kidnapping incident in Igabi. The soldiers reportedly encountered suspected terrorists transporting some of the abducted victims.
The suspects fled after seeing the troops, abandoning the captives. The three rescued victims were identified as Enock Hussaini, Abba Dauda and Kalif Haruna. Military authorities said the three had been abducted from Gidan Gulbi village on September 11.
The victims were subsequently debriefed and reunited with their families, while troops continued patrols and surveillance in the area.
In Katsina, troops from Sector 2 responded to a distress call concerning the abduction of civilians along the Dandume-Damari axis in Dandume Local Government Area.
According to the military, the troops engaged the suspected kidnappers, forcing them to flee into surrounding bushes and abandon the victims. The soldiers then rescued three people identified as Abubakar Abdulkadir, 25; Mansir Idris, 26; and Abubakar Aliyu, 21.
The troops also recovered a black Golf vehicle belonging to the victims. The rescued individuals were later escorted and released to continue their journey.
The Joint Task Force said the operations demonstrate its continued efforts to protect civilians, disrupt criminal activities and restrict the movement of terrorists across its area of responsibility.
The military also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security agencies as operations against kidnapping and other security threats continue in the North-West.