Troops rescue 48 kidnap victims in Zamfara

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 48 kidnapped victims following a terrorist attack on Magami village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara.

The rescue operation, carried out in the early hours of July 26, followed a swift response by troops after receiving a distress call that heavily armed terrorists had invaded the community.

The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North West), Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday.

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According to the statement, troops of Sector 2 were alerted that a large group of terrorists, riding about 40 motorcycles, had stormed Magami village and abducted several residents.

The statement said the attackers had rounded up numerous villagers with the intention of taking them into the forest, while another group remained on the outskirts of the community with the motorcycles.

“On arrival at the scene, the troops immediately engaged the terrorists in a fierce firefight, forcing them to abandon the kidnapped victims and flee into the surrounding bush,” the statement said.

It added that the troops’ prompt intervention led to the successful rescue of all 48 abducted civilians.

The military, however, disclosed that one civilian was killed during the attack, while two others sustained gunshot injuries.

The injured victims were evacuated to the General Hospital, Kaura Namoda, where they are receiving treatment.

Following the rescue operation, troops conducted aggressive patrols across the area to maintain dominance and prevent further attacks by the fleeing terrorists.

The Theatre Command commended the gallantry and professionalism displayed by the troops during the operation and reassured residents of the North-West of the military’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

It also urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies to sustain ongoing efforts to rid the region of terrorist elements.