The rescued victims
Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, has intensified its offensive against terrorists, rescuing 10 kidnapped victims in coordinated operations across Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
The Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
According to the statement, the rescue missions were carried out between August 18 and 19 following a combination of intelligence-led operations, routine patrols and rapid responses to distress calls.
In Sokoto State, troops on patrol in Isa Local Government Area encountered armed terrorists on August 19. The soldiers engaged the criminals in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to abandon five kidnapped civilians and flee the scene. During the operation, troops also recovered two motorcycles left behind by the fleeing terrorists.
The five rescued victims were subsequently reunited with their families.
A day earlier, troops acting on credible intelligence moved into Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, where they successfully rescued three kidnapped victims. After undergoing profiling, the victims were handed over to the appropriate local authorities.
In Zamfara State, troops responding to reports of terrorist activity in Tsafe Local Government Area also confronted armed criminals on August 18. The sustained military pressure compelled the terrorists to retreat, leaving behind two kidnapped victims.
He said the rescued victims had sustained gunshot wounds while in captivity and were immediately evacuated to a medical facility for treatment.
The latest operations underscore the military’s sustained campaign against terrorist and kidnapping syndicates operating across the North West. Security forces are continuing to rely on intelligence gathering, aggressive patrols and swift tactical responses to disrupt criminal activities, rescue abducted persons and restore security across the region.
Meanwhile, troops have continued to pursue the fleeing terrorists involved in the Zamfara operation as efforts to dismantle their networks remain ongoing.
The military spokesman, however, appealed to residents across the Joint Operations Area to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation remains vital to protecting lives and property and sustaining ongoing counter-terrorism operations.
