Troops from Nigeria’s Joint Task Force have thwarted two separate armed attacks in the country’s North-West region, rescuing three kidnapped victims and recovering weapons, military officials said.
The operations, carried out under the regional anti-banditry initiative Operation FANSAN YAMMA, took place in Kaduna and Zamfara states.
On 10 September, soldiers moved to intercept armed terrorists who had raided Unguwan Gardago village in Kaduna State.
The attackers had robbed local residents and forcibly abducted a civilian to guide their retreat. As troops established positions along the escape route, a confrontation ensued, forcing the gunmen to flee into nearby bushland. Soldiers recovered three motorcycles, stolen items, a PKT machine gun working mechanism, and parts of a pump-action firearm. However, military authorities confirmed that the abducted local guide was killed by the fleeing gunmen. His body was later recovered by troops and returned to his family.
In a separate incident the following day, troops intervened during an ambush on the Anka-Gummi Road in neighboring Zamfara State, where armed men had intercepted a commercial vehicle and abducted several passengers. Military personnel engaged the attackers, forcing them to abandon the hostages. Three victims were rescued unharmed, and terrorist communication equipment was seized at the scene.
North-west Nigeria has been plagued for years by armed criminal gangs—locally referred to as bandits—who carry out mass abductions for ransom, cattle rustling, and attacks on remote villages.
The Joint Task Force has renewed calls for local communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements to security forces.
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