The Nigerian Army reported that its troops successfully rescued 32 kidnap victims during a search-and-rescue mission in Katsina State. Yahaya Ibrahim, the Information Officer of Operation Hadarin Daji, revealed in a statement on Tuesday that the operation, conducted on Saturday, also resulted in the elimination of two suspected terrorists.
Ibrahim explained that the troops encountered the terrorists in a gunfire exchange, leading to the demise of two suspects, while others escaped with injuries. He stated, “In continuation with the series of simultaneous well-coordinated clearance operations in its areas of operational responsibilities in the North West, which has continued to yield tremendous successes, troops of the Joint Task Force North West Operation Hadarin Daji operating in Katsina State have rescued 35 kidnapped victims and neutralized two terrorists in Katsina State in a search and rescue operation.”
The successful operation, carried out on January 27, 2024, targeted terrorist camps in the Dumburum forest. The rescued victims, comprising 19 male adults, 12 female adults, and four children, were handed over to the Katsina State Government by Brigadier General OA Fadairo, the Commander of 17 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 2 Operation Hadarin Daji.
Fadairo affirmed the commitment to continue the offensive against terrorist enclaves. In a similar vein, on January 4, troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Hadarin Daji, neutralized 10 terrorists, rescued nine kidnapped victims, and recovered arms, ammunition, motorcycles, and communication gadgets in operations spanning Zamfara and Katsina States.
Previously, on December 23, 2023, the troops rescued 52 kidnap victims in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, including 14 males, 32 females, and six children. The victims will undergo medical check-ups, debriefing, and be handed over to the appropriate authorities for reunification with their families.
In an earlier development on November 23, 2023, the same troop, under the command of Major General Godwin Mutkut, the General Officer Commanding 8 Division Nigerian Army, Sokoto, rescued 31 kidnapped persons in various areas of Sokoto State. The army continues to intensify its efforts, conducting a series of clearance operations against terrorist enclaves in the North West.