Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 14 kidnapped victims and disrupted terrorist activities during separate operations in Kaduna and Katsina states between September 23 and 25, 2026.
The operations also resulted in the recovery of two AK-47 rifles and the arrest of four suspects, including three individuals allegedly involved in moving logistics and ransom funds for terrorist networks. The military disclosed the developments in a statement issued by the operation’s Media Information Officer, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja.
The latest operations come amid sustained military activity across Nigeria’s North-West, where security forces have intensified efforts to disrupt terrorist networks, prevent attacks and rescue civilians held captive.
In Kaduna State, troops operating under Sector 1 responded to intelligence concerning the movement of suspected terrorists through bush paths around Rijana in Kachia Local Government Area on September 23.
The soldiers established an ambush and engaged the suspected terrorists when they entered the area. The group subsequently fled, according to the military.
A search operation following the encounter produced several items linked to the group, including:
- One AK-47 rifle
- One magazine containing 13 rounds of ammunition
- A magazine carrier
- A military jungle hat
The recovery adds to the military’s ongoing efforts to disrupt the movement and operational capacity of armed groups operating across the North-West.
In another operation within Kachia Local Government Area, troops arrested a suspect identified by the military as Jacob at Awom village.
The military said the suspect was found carrying a locally fabricated pistol and seven rounds of ammunition.
The arrest formed part of the wider security operation in the area, where troops have been relying on intelligence-led patrols and ambushes to track suspected terrorist movements.
The military did not state whether the suspect had any direct connection to the group that fled the earlier encounter in Rijana.
The recovered weapon and ammunition, however, were taken into military custody as investigations continued.
In Katsina State, troops recorded another significant development on September 24 after intercepting three suspected terrorist logistics couriers travelling on a motorcycle in Faskari Local Government Area.
According to the military, preliminary questioning indicated that the suspects were allegedly transporting ₦2.7 million suspected to be ransom money, along with three mobile phones.
The money was reportedly intended for onward delivery to a terrorist kingpin through intermediaries.
The military said the suspects and recovered items remained in custody while investigators worked to establish their alleged links to the terrorist network.
The arrests highlight the financial dimension of kidnapping and terrorism in the region, where ransom payments can provide resources for criminal and militant operations.
Security operations continued in Faskari on September 25, when troops received intelligence about suspected terrorist movements and established another ambush.
The ensuing confrontation forced the suspected terrorists to withdraw, according to the military.
Troops subsequently searched the area and recovered:
- One AK-47 rifle
- 30 rounds of ammunition
- One motorcycle
The recovery followed the earlier interception of the three suspected logistics couriers and formed part of a series of operations conducted by Sector 2 in the Katsina axis.
The most significant humanitarian outcome of the Katsina operations came later on September 25, when troops on routine patrol encountered and rescued 14 kidnapped victims.
The victims comprised:
- 12 males
- Two females
The military said the victims had been abducted from Anguwan Miko and Tafoki villages, both in Faskari Local Government Area.
According to the military account, the captors abandoned the victims after noticing troops approaching the area.
The soldiers subsequently secured the victims and handed them over to the Faskari Local Government authorities for further action and reunification-related procedures.
The rescue is part of a broader series of military operations in Katsina and neighbouring North-West states targeting kidnapping and terrorism.
The latest operations reinforce the role of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the military’s joint task force responsible for counter-terrorism and other security operations across Nigeria’s North-West.
The formation has recorded several recent rescue operations in the region.
Earlier in September, troops rescued 31 kidnapped victims in Katsina and Kebbi states during operations conducted on September 14 and 15. The operations also resulted in the reported neutralisation of two terrorists and the arrest of two suspected terrorists.
On September 21, troops also rescued 23 kidnapped victims in Sokoto State and arrested four suspected members of the Lakurawa group during separate operations.
The continuing operations indicate that kidnapping remains a major component of the security challenge confronting communities across the North-West.
Following the latest operations, the Theatre Command commended the troops for their vigilance and response during the engagements.
The command also urged residents to provide security agencies with credible information about suspicious movements and activities.
Such intelligence has become an important component of military operations against terrorist and kidnapping networks, particularly in rural communities where security forces face difficulties monitoring large forested and remote areas.
The military said it would continue operations aimed at protecting communities, rescuing people held captive and restricting the freedom of movement of terrorists and other criminal groups.
The rescue of 14 kidnapped victims in Faskari, alongside the arrest of three suspected terrorist logistics couriers and recovery of weapons, represents another operation targeting both the personnel and support structure of armed groups in the North-West.
The simultaneous operations in Kaduna and Katsina show the military’s continued reliance on intelligence-led ambushes, patrols and rapid responses to disrupt terrorist activity.
For residents of affected communities, the immediate priority remains the protection of lives and the safe recovery of abducted persons. The arrests and recovery of weapons and suspected ransom funds could also provide investigators with information about the networks operating behind kidnapping and terrorism in the region.
