By Nkechi Eze
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.
According to an official statement signed by the Media Information Officer, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, the operations were conducted on September 24 and 25, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist activities and protect communities across the Joint Operations Area.
Danja said troops of Sector 2, on September 24, intercepted three suspects travelling on a motorcycle in Faskari Local Government Area.
He said preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspects were conveying ₦2.7 million, suspected to be ransom money, alongside three mobile phones, for onward transfer to a terrorist kingpin through intermediaries in the area.
The suspects, as well as the recovered items, are currently in military custody for further investigation.
In another operation on September 25, troops acting on credible intelligence about the movement of terrorists in Faskari established an ambush position and engaged the terrorists, forcing them to flee in disarray.
A subsequent exploitation of the area led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle, 30 rounds of ammunition and one motorcycle.
Also on the same day, troops conducting a routine patrol intercepted and rescued 14 kidnapped victims comprising 12 males and two females.
The statement said preliminary investigation revealed that the victims had earlier been abducted from Anguwan Miko and Tafoki villages in Faskari Local Government Area.
According to Danja, the victims were abandoned by the terrorists after they sighted the advancing troops. They were subsequently rescued and handed over to the Faskari Local Government authorities for further necessary action.
The Theatre Command said the operations underscored the commitment of Operation FANSAN YAMMA to protecting lives and property, rescuing persons held in terrorist captivity and denying terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action across the Joint Operations Area.
It commended the troops for their vigilance, courage and prompt response, while urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies on suspicious movements and activities within their communities.
