Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have arrested three suspected terrorist logistics couriers and rescued 14 kidnapped victims during separate operations in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The operations, conducted on September 24 and 25, 2026, also led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, 30 rounds of ammunition and a motorcycle.
In a statement signed by the Joint Task Force’s Media Information Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, the military said the three suspects were arrested on September 24 after troops of Sector 2 intercepted them while travelling on a motorcycle.
Preliminary interrogation reportedly revealed that the suspects were allegedly transporting ₦2.7 million suspected to be ransom money, alongside three mobile phones, for delivery to a terrorist kingpin through intermediaries.
The suspects and recovered items have been taken into military custody for further investigation.Troops Recover AK-47, Rescue 14 VictimsIn a separate operation on September 25, troops acted on credible intelligence about the movement of terrorists in the area and established an ambush.
The military said the troops engaged the terrorists, forcing them to flee and abandon an AK-47 rifle, 30 rounds of ammunition and a motorcycle.Later the same day, troops on routine patrol intercepted and rescued 14 kidnapped victims, comprising 12 males and two females.
According to the statement, the victims had been abducted from Anguwan Miko and Tafoki villages in Faskari Local Government Area.They were reportedly abandoned by their captors after the kidnappers sighted the advancing troops.
The rescued victims were subsequently handed over to the Faskari Local Government authorities for further necessary action.
The Theatre Command said the operations underscored its commitment to protecting lives and property, rescuing persons held in captivity and restricting the activities of terrorists and other criminal elements across the Joint Operations Area.
It also commended the troops for their vigilance and urged residents to continue providing security agencies with timely and credible information on suspicious activities within their communities.
