Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued a kidnapped woman after disrupting a planned ransom collection by suspected terrorists in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The rescue happened after soldiers received credible intelligence that the kidnappers were preparing to collect ransom for the woman, who had been abducted while working on her farm last month. Acting spokesperson for the troops, Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba, said the military moved in to stop the exchange before the money could change hands.
According to him, the terrorists noticed the approaching troops and attempted to fight back, but they were no match for the soldiers.
"The engagement forced the criminals to retreat in disarray, abandoning the hostage, who was subsequently secured by our troops," Osoba said.
The woman was rescued without injuries and was later reunited with her family in Danko-Wasagu.
Osoba said the troops did not stop after the rescue. They also combed through the route used by the fleeing terrorists to ensure the area was safe before returning to base.
"Following the rescue, troops conducted a thorough exploitation of the terrorists' withdrawal route to ensure that the area was fully secured before returning safely to base," he added.
The operation unfolded after troops received actionable intelligence regarding the planned ransom exchange in the local government area. The military has been running Operation FANSAN YAMMA as part of its counter-terrorism efforts targeting bandits and other armed criminal groups in northwestern Nigeria, where kidnapping for ransom has remained a major security challenge.
In a separate operation, troops carried out routine clearance and dominance patrols across parts of Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State. According to the military, the patrols ended peacefully and formed part of ongoing operations aimed at denying terrorists and bandits freedom to operate across the state.
Osoba assured residents that the military would continue to intensify operations against criminal groups in Kebbi and neighbouring states.
"We will keep the fire on everywhere the terrorists are. We will dismantle them to secure Kebbi State and Nigeria," Osoba said.
He also appealed to members of the public to continue supporting security agencies with useful information that could help prevent attacks and rescue victims faster.
"We urge members of the public to continue sharing credible information with security agencies. Such intelligence is critical to thwarting the activities of criminal elements and securing our communities," he said.
The rescue in Danko-Wasagu is the latest in a series of operations by troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, which has been conducting raids and patrols across the northwest to push back against armed groups that have terrorised rural communities. Kidnapping for ransom has become a persistent problem in the region, with farmers and villagers frequently targeted while working or travelling.
The military has consistently called on residents to report suspicious movements and activities in their areas. Officials say community intelligence has played a part in several recent successful operations, allowing troops to respond quickly to threats before they escalate.
The rescued woman's identity has not been disclosed. Authorities have not said whether any of the suspected terrorists were killed or captured during the engagement, and no figures on casualties have been released.
Osoba's comments to reporters came following the successful operation that safely reunited the rescued victim with her family. He said the military remains committed to sustaining pressure on criminal groups across Kebbi State and the wider northwest region.
The patrols in Ngaski Local Government Area, which ended peacefully, were part of the same broader push to secure rural communities and deny bandits the space to operate. The military has described these patrols as routine but necessary, given the mobility of the armed groups operating in the region.
Operation FANSAN YAMMA continues to coordinate with other security agencies in the fight against banditry and kidnapping. The military has said it will not relent until communities in the northwest are free from the threat of armed criminal activity.
Residents in Danko-Wasagu have been urged to keep providing credible intelligence to help tackle banditry and kidnapping in the area.
Source: Pulse.ng
