Breaking: Troops Free 22 Kidnap Victims In Sokoto Rescue Mission

According to Ireporter Online, troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West under Operation FANSAN YAMMA have successfully rescued 22 kidnapped victims during coordinated operations in Sabon Birni and Isa Local Government Areas of Sokoto State.

The rescued persons comprised 17 travellers and five farmers who were abducted by armed terrorists during separate attacks on communities in the area.

This was disclosed by the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, in a statement released to journalists over the weekend.

He explained that the rescue operations were launched based on credible intelligence and distress signals received from affected communities.

According to the statement, the first incident occurred on June 18, 2026, when troops received reports that terrorists had blocked the Sabon Birni–Shinkafi Road at Kura Mota Village, attacking two civilian vehicles and abducting several passengers, during which one person was killed.

Danja stated that troops swiftly mobilised to the location and initiated a coordinated pursuit backed by aerial surveillance. The sustained pressure forced the attackers to abandon their victims and flee the scene, leading to the rescue of 17 abducted passengers who were later handed over to relevant authorities.

In a separate operation the same day, troops responded to another attack in Chohi Village where armed terrorists attempted to abduct farmers on their farmlands. The troops pursued the attackers along their withdrawal route, successfully rescuing five kidnapped farmers who were subsequently reunited with their families.

Following the operations, security forces conducted confidence-building patrols in surrounding communities, including Gidan Rana and Gidan Sale villages, to reassure residents and strengthen security dominance in the area.

The military described the operations as part of ongoing efforts under Operation FANSAN YAMMA to safeguard lives and property across the North-West, reiterating its commitment to denying criminal elements freedom of action and ensuring safer communities.