Nigerian troops have rescued 27 people, including a six-month-old baby, who had been kidnapped by suspected terrorists in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State. The rescue operation followed a gun battle between the soldiers and the suspected terrorists, who reportedly abandoned their captives while fleeing into nearby bushes. The rescued victims comprised 15 males and 12 females, according to a report by counter-insurgency publication Zagazola Makama.
The operation began after residents of Gamji community raised a distress call at about 12:25 p.m. on Friday, alerting security personnel to the situation. According to Zagazola Makama, troops responded to the report and immediately mobilised towards the community. However, the suspected terrorists had already left the area with their captives before the soldiers arrived, forcing the troops to begin pursuing them through nearby settlements and surrounding areas.
The publication reported that the soldiers continued their pursuit through Gangare Village towards Kamba Village in an effort to catch up with the fleeing suspects. At about 6:05 p.m., the troops reportedly made contact with the suspected terrorists, leading to an exchange of gunfire. The soldiers engaged the group with superior firepower, putting pressure on the suspects and forcing them to abandon the kidnapped victims before escaping into the surrounding bushes.
Following the gun battle, troops conducted a search of the area to locate the abandoned captives and ensure that all those taken during the incident had been found. According to Makama’s report, the search led to the successful rescue of all 27 victims, consisting of 15 males and 12 females. Among those rescued was a six-month-old infant, whose presence highlighted the vulnerability of some of the people held by the suspected terrorists. The report did not provide further details about the identities of the victims or the circumstances of their abduction.
After the rescue, the troops handed the victims over to the village head of Gamji, Alhaji Falalu Suleiman, following preliminary investigations. The handover marked the end of the immediate rescue operation and returned the victims to community leadership. The report did not state whether any of the rescued individuals required medical attention or whether additional arrangements had been made for their care following the incident.
No casualties were recorded among the troops during the operation, according to the report. However, the condition and casualty figures of the suspected terrorists remained unknown as there was no confirmation of losses on their side. Makama added that troops had continued aggressive patrols across the area to prevent further criminal activities, restrict the movement of suspected terrorists and improve the safety of residents. The patrols were aimed at maintaining security in the area following the incident.
