Military Offensive Neutralizes Bandit Enclaves in Katsina, Liberating Abductees Held in Forest Camp

In a highly coordinated land and air assault, troops of the Nigerian Army operating under the tactical umbrella of Operation Clean Sweep III have successfully dismantled several notorious terrorist camps and liberated four kidnapped hostages in Katsina State. The breakthrough comes amid a massive, intelligence-driven campaign targeting the high-profile bandit kingpin, Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani, whose criminal syndicate has long terrorized communities across the North-West zone.

The offensive was executed by the 17 Brigade Strike Group alongside the Quick Response Force, with ground operations heavily reinforced by elite operatives from the 8 Division Special Forces.

Prior to the infantry advance, the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma conducted extensive Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) flights over the Matazu–Musawa axis. The aerial data provided critical battlefield visibility, allowing commanders to pinpoint hidden networks within Fafu Village and launch precise tactical strikes.

Faced with overwhelming firepower and superior tactical coordination during the encounter, the armed bandits abandoned their defensive positions and fled deep into the dense foliage of the Fafu Forest. A subsequent clearing operation conducted by the soldiers led to the direct discovery and rescue of four male captives who had been left behind by their fleeing captors.

The rescued individuals have been identified as:

• Alhaji Sa’adu Dayi (68 years old)
• Musa Yakuba (62 years old)
• Salisu Danja (50 years old)
• Mukhtar Danja (36 years old)

Records indicate that the victims were originally abducted on April 14, 2026, while traveling along the Sabon Sara road within the Matazu-Karaduwa axis. During their grueling two-month captivity, they were held in the same forest enclave alongside other high-profile captives, including the late retired Major General Rabe Abubakar and his spouse, the latter of whom was freed by security forces in a separate raid weeks prior.

Upon being moved to the Forward Operating Base in Matazu, the survivors were received by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division and Commander of Sector 2, Major General B.P. Koughna. Because several of the hostages had sustained gunshot wounds inflicted by the bandits during their captivity, the military provided immediate first-aid stabilization before transferring them to the Federal Teaching Hospital in Katsina for advanced medical treatment.

Confirming the development on behalf of the sub-national government, the Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, highly praised the bravery and synergy displayed by the armed forces. He reassured citizens that state and federal forces remain locked on the trail of Kachalla Fulani, emphasizing that operations will not cease until the criminal network is completely erased.