Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, operating under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, rescued six kidnapped victims and recovered ₦800,000 that terrorists had taken from them in Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State on August 22, 2026. The operation took place along the Dandume–Sheme Road, where terrorists had stopped a vehicle and abducted its six occupants.
Details of the Rescue Operation
According to a statement signed by Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer for the Joint Task Force North West, troops from Sector 2 were on a fighting patrol when they received a distress call about the abduction. The soldiers moved swiftly to the location, engaged the armed group, and overwhelmed them with superior firepower, forcing the terrorists to abandon the captives and retreat into the bush.
All six victims were brought out unharmed. Troops subsequently recovered ₦800,000 that the terrorists had taken from the occupants before fleeing. The cash and the vehicle were handed back to the victims in the presence of the Divisional Police Officer, Dandume.
Second Operation in Kankara LGA
A day before the Dandume rescue, troops from the same sector carried out a separate operation along the Maraban Kankara axis in Kankara Local Government Area on August 21, 2026. Soldiers made contact with a group of terrorists in the area, engaging them until they scattered into surrounding bushes. Troops pursued the fleeing individuals and, during a search of the area, recovered one motorcycle.
In his statement issued on August 23, 2026, Lieutenant Colonel Danja said the Joint Task Force remains committed to maintaining aggressive patrols and offensive operations across the region.
Military Appeal for Public Support
“The Theatre appreciates the continued support of members of the public and urges communities to provide timely and credible information to security forces in support of ongoing operations,” he said.
Katsina State, in Nigeria's North West, has faced persistent insecurity linked to banditry and kidnapping for ransom, with communities along rural roads frequently targeted. Operation FANSAN YAMMA was established to confront this threat through sustained military operations in the region.
In a related development, Legit.ng earlier reported that troops of the Joint Task Force North West, operating under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, successfully foiled a terrorist attack in Sokoto State and freed a kidnapped man in Kaduna State on the same day, the military said.
