Troops Rescue 27 Kidnap Victims in Sokoto, Zamfara

Troops Rescue 27 Kidnap Victims in Sokoto, Zamfara

Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued 27 kidnap victims, foiled abduction attempts and recovered livestock and motorcycles in a series of operations across Sokoto and Zamfara states.

Newera News learnt that the Theatre Command said the operations were carried out on 20 and 21 July by troops of the Joint Task Force (North West), acting on credible intelligence about terrorist activity in the affected communities.

According to a statement by the Media Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, troops from Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) Shagari and Sifawa moved to the Wanke and Kaura communities in the Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Monday following reports of terrorist activity.

The troops engaged the terrorists at Kaura community, forcing them to flee, and rescued six kidnap victims alongside livestock and two motorcycles. The victims have been reunited with their families, the statement said.

In a related operation on the same day, troops at Gandi, working with the Sokoto State Community Guard Corps, rescued 10 kidnap victims at Badanma community in Gandi Local Government Area. The victims, who had escaped their abductors and were found wandering in the bush, included men, women and children. They were handed over to community leaders and reunited with their families.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the Gandi operation was conducted at about 5pm by troops of 1 Brigade, deployed at FOB Gandi, following actionable intelligence on the terrorists’ movement. The sources said the troops’ superior firepower forced the attackers to flee, abandoning their captives, and that a pursuit operation has been launched to track down the fleeing suspects.