By Sabiu Abdullahi
Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West under 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 operation followed a distress call received in the early hours of Sunday, July 26, which reported that dozens of armed terrorists had stormed the community.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Aliyu Danja, said the attackers arrived on about 40 motorcycles and abducted several villagers.
According to him, the assailants assembled the victims with the intention of taking them into a nearby forest, while another group remained at the edge of the village to guard the motorcycles.
Danja said troops responded swiftly to the emergency and confronted 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.
“The prompt intervention led to the successful rescue of all 48 abducted civilians.”
He disclosed that one resident 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 treatment.
Following the operation, security personnel carried out patrols across the area to prevent another attack and maintain a security presence in the community.
The military command praised the troops for their performance during the operation.
“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 statement added.
Danja also urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with useful and timely information to strengthen ongoing operations against terrorist groups in the North-West.
“Sustain the momentum in ridding the north-west of terrorist elements.”
