Troops Rescue 48 Kidnap Victims In Zamfara After Fierce Gun Battle With Terrorists

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

The operation, which took place in the early hours of Sunday, July 26, 2026, was launched after troops of Sector 2 received a distress call that a large group of terrorists, riding about 40 motorcycles, had stormed the community and abducted scores of residents.

According to a statement issued by the Media Information Officer of Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, the attackers had rounded up numerous villagers with the intention of taking them into the bush, while another group waited on the outskirts of the village with the motorcycles.Crime & Justice

The troops responded immediately and engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to abandon the abducted victims and flee into the surrounding forest.

“The prompt intervention led to the successful rescue of all 48 abducted civilians,” the statement said.

However, the attack claimed the life of one civilian, while two others sustained gunshot wounds. The injured victims were evacuated to the General Hospital in Kaura Namoda, where they are receiving medical treatment.

Following the rescue, troops carried out aggressive patrols across the area to prevent any further attacks and maintain security.

The Theatre Command commended the courage and professionalism of the troops, describing the operation as another significant success in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign in the North West.

It also reassured residents of its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property, urging members of the public to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies to sustain ongoing efforts to eliminate terrorist elements from the region.