Nigerian Army troops have initiated a significant military offensive in parts of Katsina State following the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, a former Director of Defence Information, who died while in the custody of suspected bandits after being abducted alongside his wife. The military announced that the operation, code-named Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, began on Sunday in Matazu Local Government Area and surrounding communities, with troops targeting terrorist and bandit hideouts believed to be operating in the region.
Background of the Offensive
The offensive comes just days after authorities confirmed the death of Mr. Abubakar, who was abducted on 30 May along the Marabar Musawa–Kafinsoli Road in Matazu, an incident that drew widespread concern across the country. Security and government officials disclosed that the retired general died in captivity after reportedly suffering complications linked to underlying health conditions. In a statement issued on Monday, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North West Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Aliyu Danja, said the operation was designed to locate and neutralise those responsible for the abduction, dismantle criminal networks, and restore security in affected communities.
Operation Details
“The operation was launched following the unfortunate incident that led to the death of retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, who was abducted alongside his wife by suspected terrorists and bandits in the area,” Mr. Danja, a lieutenant-colonel, said. According to the military, troops have carried out aggressive fighting patrols, intelligence-led raids, cordon-and-search operations, and clearance missions across identified criminal hideouts and suspected terrorist enclaves since the commencement of the operation.
The military reported notable successes in the Dikkawa Hills area and surrounding communities, including Adua, Nasarawa, and Karaduwa, where troops conducted clearance operations on locations identified as terrorist hideouts. During the operations, several structures described as terrorists’ life-support facilities and logistics bases were discovered and destroyed, the statement said. PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify the extent of the damage or the military’s assessment of the operation’s impact.
Renewed Pressure on Bandit Networks
Katsina, like several North-west states, has witnessed years of attacks by armed groups involved in mass abductions, cattle rustling, and attacks on rural communities. Security forces have intensified air and ground operations in recent months under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, a joint military campaign aimed at dismantling bandit strongholds across the region. The death of Mr. Abubakar, a retired senior military officer, has further highlighted the persistent security challenges facing communities in the state despite ongoing counter-banditry operations.
Military authorities said the latest offensive is being conducted in collaboration with other security agencies and local stakeholders. “The Theatre Command wishes to reassure the good people of Matazu Local Government Area and neighbouring communities that troops remain committed to protecting law-abiding citizens and denying terrorists and bandits freedom of action within the region,” the statement added. The military also urged residents to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies, assuring that information from the public would be treated confidentially. Officials said troops would sustain pressure on criminal elements until the operation’s objectives are achieved, adding that further updates would be provided as the operation progresses.
