Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 10 people and disrupted two separate kidnapping attempts during operations in Zamfara State, according to the military.
The operations took place on Sunday, September 27, in Maru and Tsafe Local Government Areas as troops responded to reports of abductions and gunfire involving armed criminals. The operations resulted in four victims being rescued in Maru and six others being brought to safety during a separate incident along the Tsafe-Funtua Road.
The latest operations form part of continuing military efforts to protect civilians, secure major routes and disrupt kidnapping networks operating across Zamfara and other parts of the North-West.
In Maru Local Government Area, troops moved into Kade Daba Village in the Kanoma District after receiving information that residents had been abducted.
The soldiers engaged the kidnappers, prompting them to abandon their captives and flee from the area. Three victims were recovered during the initial intervention.
A subsequent search of the surrounding area led troops to another victim, taking the number rescued from the incident to four.
The rescued victims were taken into military care for assessment before arrangements for their reunification with their families.
The Maru operation highlights the role of intelligence and rapid deployment in responding to abduction incidents, particularly in communities where criminal groups attempt to exploit difficult terrain to evade security forces.
A separate incident occurred along the Tsafe-Funtua Road, where troops carrying out a security operation heard sporadic gunshots around the Kwanoni axis.
The troops moved towards the location and encountered armed men withdrawing through surrounding high ground. According to the military account, the troops engaged the attackers, forcing them to retreat into the surrounding terrain.
During the incident, the attackers reportedly set a Sharon vehicle on fire while attempting to abduct its occupants. The occupants escaped before the vehicle was completely consumed by the fire.
Six other people were rescued from a separate vehicle that lost control during the gunfire.
Security personnel subsequently cleared the affected vehicle from the highway, allowing traffic to resume along the route.
The incident demonstrates the security challenges facing travellers along major roads linking communities in Zamfara with neighbouring areas.
The latest rescue comes amid a series of military operations targeting kidnappers and armed groups in Zamfara.
On September 26, troops responding to intelligence about an attempted abduction involving members of the Sarkin Samari family in Tsafe engaged the attackers and rescued six victims. The military said the attackers fled into nearby bushes following the confrontation.
The development came only days after troops also secured Bungudu Local Government Chairman Nura Umar Abdullahi and four other victims who escaped from captivity in the Kaura Namoda area.
Abdullahi had reportedly been abducted from his residence in Bungudu in July. The five victims were subsequently taken to a military medical facility for treatment, evaluation and debriefing, with arrangements made for their reunification with relatives.
These successive operations show that kidnapping remains an active security concern in parts of Zamfara, even as security forces continue clearance, patrol and intelligence-led operations.
Operation FANSAN YAMMA has continued to appeal to residents to provide security agencies with credible and timely information about suspicious movements and activities.
For security agencies, such information can help identify potential attacks and facilitate faster responses to distress calls.
The military has also said it will maintain offensive operations across its area of responsibility to disrupt terrorist and criminal activities and protect civilians.
Key developments from the latest Zamfara operations include:
- 10 people rescued during two separate operations.
- Four victims recovered in Kade Daba, Maru LGA.
- Six people rescued following the incident along the Tsafe-Funtua Road.
- Two attempted abductions were disrupted.
- The operations were conducted on September 27, 2026.
The immediate priority following the rescues is the safe reunification of the victims with their families after necessary medical assessment and debriefing.
For Zamfara communities, the continued military presence and rapid response to distress calls remain important as authorities seek to reduce the ability of armed groups to conduct kidnappings along roads and in vulnerable settlements.
The latest operations also reinforce the importance of intelligence sharing between residents and security agencies. While the military’s recent interventions have resulted in multiple rescues, the recurrence of abduction attempts means sustained operations and community-level security cooperation will remain central to efforts to improve safety across Zamfara.
