Troops Rescue Kidnap Victim, Destroy Terrorist Camps in Katsina Forest

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

Troops of the Nigerian Army have rescued a kidnap victim and dismantled several terrorist camps during ongoing counter-terrorism operations in Katsina State.

The operation, conducted under Operation CLEAN SWEEP, involved troops of the 17 Brigade Strike Group and Quick Response Force, supported by elements of the 8 Division Special Forces and the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA.

Military authorities said the troops carried out a coordinated clearance operation in and around Tuga community in Matazu Local Government Area, targeting known terrorist enclaves based on intelligence reports and aerial surveillance.

During the operation, troops recovered 36 cattle, 280 sheep and two donkeys believed to have been rustled by the terrorists.

The military said the operation also extended into the notorious Fafu Forest, where troops advanced after aerial and artillery strikes on identified terrorist positions.

Several camps and hideouts used by the criminal groups were destroyed during the offensive.

While exploiting the area, troops discovered a hideout where kidnapped victims were being held. Two bodies were recovered at the location, while one captive, identified as Nura Yar’Adua, was rescued.

The victim, who was found in chains, received first aid before being evacuated to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, for further treatment.

The military said the operation also destroyed terrorist logistics structures and inflicted significant losses on the criminal group, further weakening its operational capacity.

The Nigerian Army reiterated its commitment to sustaining offensive operations against terrorists and other criminal elements and urged members of the public to continue providing credible information to security agencies.