Troops Rescue 33 Kidnapped Passengers in Zamfara

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 33 passengers abducted by terrorists in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The passengers were rescued on Saturday after security personnel received information about their abduction along the Magazu area of the local government.

The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, disclosed the development in a statement.

He said troops of Sector 2, working alongside personnel of the Nigeria Police Force stationed in Tsafe, received information in the late afternoon of August 8 that terrorists had intercepted and abducted passengers travelling through the area.

According to him, the troops quickly mobilised to the location after receiving the report and encountered the terrorists while they were moving the victims to an unknown destination.

The troops engaged the attackers, forcing them to abandon the abducted passengers and escape into nearby bushes.

Danja said the troops then secured the area and rescued all 33 victims. He added that security personnel immediately began searching the surrounding area in an effort to locate the fleeing terrorists.

He said the rescue operation was carried out without any reported casualty among the victims.

The Theatre Commander of Operation FANSAN YAMMA commended the troops for their quick response and professional handling of the operation, saying their action prevented the terrorists from successfully taking the passengers to another location.

The commander said the task force remained focused on protecting civilians, disrupting terrorist activities and keeping major roads and transportation routes across the North-West safe.

He also called on residents to remain alert and promptly share useful information about the activities and movements of terrorists and other criminal groups with security agencies.

The latest rescue adds to ongoing military operations aimed at curbing abductions and other criminal activities affecting travellers and communities across Zamfara and other parts of the North-West.