Troops of the Nigerian Army have killed 23 terrorists and freed 23 kidnapped victims during an operation in Katsina State.
A senior military source told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday that the raid took place on Saturday at Pauwa village in Kankara Local Government Area under “Operation Fasan Yamma.”
According to the source, the victims included 12 women and 11 children, rescued after troops overpowered the terrorists with support from air and artillery strikes. Motorcycles, spare parts, farm tools, lubricants, and food items recovered from the hideout were destroyed.
“In a separate operation, troops of Forward Operating Base Malumfashi in Katsina rescued three kidnapped victims at Shaiskawa village, Matazu Local Government Area, after engaging the terrorists in a firefight,” the source said.
He added that in the Northeast, four relatives of ISWAP and JAS terrorists—two women and two children—surrendered to troops of the 192 Battalion in Gwoza, Borno State. Also in Borno, a suspected terrorist logistics supplier was caught in Kukawa with ₦55,000, a mobile phone, and a wristwatch.
Elsewhere, troops arrested five suspects linked to drug peddling and theft during a raid in Muva village, Adamawa. Under “Operation MESA” in Abuja, three men notorious for phone snatching in Dei-Dei, Dakwa, and Zuba were arrested with four mobile phones and a smartwatch.
The source also revealed that troops of Operation SAFE HAVEN intervened in a farmer-herder clash in Jos East, Plateau State, preventing it from escalating.
“The army will sustain pressure on terrorists and criminals until peace is restored. We urge Nigerians to keep giving timely and credible information to security agencies,” the source added.
Operation Fasan Yamma, launched in 2024, is a joint military campaign targeting terrorists and bandits in Nigeria’s Northwest, covering Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Niger states.
