Troops Rescue 48 Kidnap Victims After Zamfara Terrorist Attack

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 48 kidnapped civilians after responding swiftly to a terrorist attack on Magami village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The operation took place in the early hours of Sunday, July 26, 2026, following an attack by a large group of terrorists who reportedly invaded the community on about 40 motorcycles.

The Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed the development in a statement on Sunday.

According to him, troops of Sector 2 received a distress call alerting them to the invasion and immediately mobilised to the community.

The terrorists had reportedly rounded up several residents with the intention of taking them into the bush, while another group remained on the outskirts of the village with the motorcycles.

However, the arrival of the troops triggered a fierce gun battle with the attackers.

“On arrival at the scene, the troops immediately engaged the terrorists in a fierce firefight, forcing them to abandon the kidnapped victims and flee into the surrounding bush,” Danja said.

He said the prompt intervention enabled the troops to rescue all 48 abducted civilians.

The attack, however, resulted in the death of one civilian, while two others sustained gunshot injuries during the confrontation.

The injured victims were evacuated to the General Hospital, Kaura Namoda, where they are currently receiving medical treatment.

Following the successful rescue operation, troops conducted aggressive patrols across the area to establish security dominance and prevent the terrorists from regrouping or launching another attack.

The Theatre Command commended the troops for what it described as their gallantry and professionalism in responding to the distress call and rescuing the victims.

It also reassured residents across the North-West of the military's continued commitment to protecting lives and property and degrading terrorist activities in the region.

The Command urged members of the public to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing counter-terrorism operations.

The latest operation comes amid continued security challenges in parts of Zamfara and other North-West states, where armed groups have carried out attacks and mass abductions targeting rural communities.

The military said sustained cooperation between security agencies and local communities remains critical to disrupting the activities of terrorist groups and restoring lasting peace across the region.