Troops Foil Terrorist Attack, Rescue 11 Kidnap Victims In Kebbi

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have foiled a terrorist attack and rescued 11 kidnapped victims during separate operations in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The operations were conducted in Ribah town and the Wasagu-Falfala general area on October 30 and 31, 2026.

In a statement, the Acting Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Captain Tamuno Sinivie, said troops of Sector 2 responded to a distress call on October 30 over suspected terrorists who had blocked the Ribah-Dirindaji road while attempting to invade Ribah town.

He said the troops arrived at the scene to discover that the terrorists had fled with seven persons.

According to him, the troops immediately launched an aggressive pursuit of the fleeing assailants towards Rambo village, forcing them to release the victims under sustained pressure.

The rescued victims were identified as Sa’adu Bala, 53; Nura Musa, 25; Dantami Yahyi, 57; Nasiru Muhammad, 21; Abdulakeem Abubakar, 23; Abdulahi Maikudi, 32; and Zaki Gambo, 56.

Sinivie said all seven victims were indigenes of Ribah town and had been reunited with their families.

In a separate operation on October 31, troops conducting a routine patrol in the Wasagu-Falfala general area came under fire from terrorists who had laid an ambush along their route.

He said the troops responded swiftly and fought through the ambush with superior firepower, forcing the terrorists to flee in disarray.

During a subsequent search of the area, the troops discovered four kidnapped victims abandoned by the fleeing assailants amid the exchange of gunfire.

The rescued victims were identified as Lawali Ali, 20; Samaila Shaibu, 14; Kasimu Shaibu, 20; and Aliyu Bala, 18.

The military spokesman said the four victims, who are residents of Wasagu village, had been handed over to the village head.

He assured residents that troops would sustain operations in the area to deter further attacks, protect communities and strengthen public confidence in the security forces.

Sinivie also urged members of the public to provide timely and credible information to support ongoing security operations.

He reaffirmed that Operation FANSAN YAMMA remained committed to protecting law-abiding citizens and critical infrastructure within its area of responsibility.