Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 48 abducted residents after repelling a terrorist attack on Magami village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The rescue operation followed a distress call received in the early hours of Saturday, prompting troops to respond to reports that dozens of heavily armed terrorists had invaded the community.

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

Gun Battle Forces Terrorists to Abandon Captives

According to the military, the attackers arrived in Magami village on about 40 motorcycles and rounded up several residents with the intention of taking them into the bush.

While one group held the captives, another remained on the outskirts of the village with the motorcycles.

“The operation was launched after troops of Sector 2 received a distress call indicating that a large group of terrorists, riding about 40 motorcycles, had invaded the community. The terrorists rounded up numerous residents with the intention of taking them into the bush, while another group remained at the outskirts of the village with the motorcycles,” the statement said.

The troops engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle immediately upon arrival, forcing the attackers to flee into the surrounding bush and abandon all 48 kidnapped victims.

One Civilian Killed, Two Others Injured

The military confirmed that one civilian lost his life during the attack, 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 mission, troops carried out aggressive patrols across the area to prevent further attacks and track down the fleeing terrorists.

Military Reaffirms Commitment to Security

The Theatre Command commended the troops for their bravery and professionalism during the operation and reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property across the North-West.

“The Theatre Command commends the gallantry and professionalism of the troops for this successful operation and reassures residents of the North West of its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property.

“The public is enjoined to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to sustain the momentum in ridding the North West of terrorist elements,” the statement added.

Zamfara remains one of the states hardest hit by banditry and mass abductions in Nigeria’s North-West, with armed groups frequently targeting rural communities despite intensified military operations.

Operation FANSAN YAMMA is one of the military’s ongoing joint security operations established to combat terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes across the region.