Troops of the Nigerian Army conducting Operation CLEAN SWEEP III have rescued four kidnapped victims during a sustained offensive operation targeting the notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani, and his criminal network in Katsina State.
The Army disclosed that the rescue was achieved on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, when troops of the 17 Brigade Strike Group/Quick Response Force, supported by troops of the 8 Division Special Forces, launched a deliberate offensive to clear terrorist hideouts in Fafu Village along the Matazu-Musawa axis of the state.
According to the military, the operation was preceded by Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions conducted by the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, which enabled troops to identify and dominate the terrorists’ enclave before the ground assault commenced.
During the operation, troops made contact with the terrorists and engaged them with what the Army described as overwhelming firepower. Unable to withstand the assault, the terrorists reportedly fled their camp in disarray, abandoning their captives and other items.
Subsequent exploitation of the camp led to the rescue of four abducted victims.
The rescued victims were immediately evacuated to the Forward Operating Base in Matazu, where they were received by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division and Commander, Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General BP Koughna.
The Army said the GOC reassured the victims of their safety and reiterated the military’s commitment to restoring peace and security across Katsina State.
Some of the victims, who sustained gunshot wounds allegedly inflicted by their abductors during captivity, received immediate medical attention before being transferred to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, for further treatment.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were abducted on April 14, 2026, from Sabon Sara along the Matazu-Karaduwa Road. They were reportedly held captive alongside the late Major General Rabe Abubakar (retd.) and his wife.
The Nigerian Army stated that troops remain on the trail of Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani and other criminal elements operating in the area and will continue offensive operations until those responsible for acts of terrorism and banditry are apprehended or neutralised.
The Army further reaffirmed its commitment, in collaboration with other security agencies, to ensuring that terrorists and bandits have no haven anywhere in the country.
