Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 10 civilians in separate operations across Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states as part of ongoing efforts to protect lives and combat terrorist activities in the North West.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, saying the successful operations were conducted on August 18 and 19, 2026.
According to the statement, troops on patrol in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State on August 19 encountered an ambush by suspected terrorists but responded swiftly, forcing the attackers to flee.
“During the encounter, five civilians were rescued and subsequently reunited with their families, while two motorcycles abandoned by the terrorists were recovered,” the statement said.
In a separate operation on August 18, troops acting on intelligence about three kidnapped victims carried out a search-and-rescue mission in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The military said the operation resulted in the successful rescue of all three victims, who were profiled and handed over to the appropriate local authorities.
Also on August 18, troops responded to reports of terrorist activities in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The rapid deployment of soldiers forced the terrorists to abandon two captives while fleeing.
The statement noted that the rescued victims had sustained gunshot wounds during their captivity and were immediately evacuated to a medical facility for urgent treatment.
“Efforts are currently ongoing to track and neutralise the fleeing terrorists,” Danja stated.
The Theatre Command commended the troops for their vigilance and prompt response, reaffirming its commitment to sustaining pressure on terrorist groups across the Joint Operations Area.
It also appealed to residents to continue supporting security operations by providing timely and credible information to security agencies to enhance the protection of lives and property.
