Troops Rescue Three Kidnapped Farmers After Escape from Bandits’ Hideout in Katsina
Troops Rescue Three Kidnapped Farmers After Escape from Bandits' Hideout in Katsina
Troops Rescue Three Kidnapped Farmers After Escape from Bandits’ Hideout in Katsina
Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued three kidnapped farmers who escaped from a bandits’ hideout after spending five days in captivity, marking another success in the ongoing military campaign against insecurity in Nigeria’s North-West.
The rescue operation was carried out by troops of the 17 Brigade, Nigerian Army, during a routine foot patrol around Unguwan Doka in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State on July 19, 2026.
According to the military, the soldiers intercepted three exhausted men wandering through the bush under suspicious circumstances. Preliminary screening revealed that they were victims of kidnapping who had escaped from a terrorist enclave.
The rescued victims were identified as Surajo Aliyu (37), Anas Usman (32) and Nura Jamilu (16).
The victims told troops they were abducted on July 14, 2026, while working on their farms at Anguwan Danhalima village in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
They recounted enduring several days in captivity before taking advantage of a heavy rainfall on the night of their escape. According to them, the downpour provided cover after their armed captors fell asleep, allowing them to flee through the forest until they encountered the Nigerian Army patrol.
The military said the prompt intervention of the troops ensured the victims’ safety and prevented the possibility of their recapture.
Following the rescue, the three farmers were evacuated to a military facility in Unguwan Doka, where they received immediate medical attention and were stabilised. Arrangements are ongoing to reunite them with their families through the appropriate local authorities.
The Nigerian Army said the rescue demonstrates the effectiveness of sustained patrols and offensive operations under Operation FANSAN YAMMA, which is intensifying efforts to dismantle terrorist and bandit networks, rescue kidnapped victims and restore peace across the North-West.
The latest operation offers renewed hope to communities affected by banditry and reinforces the military’s commitment to protecting lives, securing rural communities and denying criminal elements freedom of operation across the region.
Troops Rescue Three Kidnapped Farmers After Escape from Bandits’ Hideout in Katsina
