Nigerian troops rescue abducted civilians in Katsata and Zamfara

Nigerian security forces conducting Operation FANSAN YAMMA rescued several kidnapping victims in the North‑West region. On 16 June 2026 troops under Operation CLEAN SWEEP III rescued Amina Abubakar, the wife of the late Major General Abubakar Rabe, after she was shot and freed by soldiers at Tunga village in Matazu LGA, Katsina State. She received first‑aid at the scene and was evacuated for further medical care.

In the same series of operations, troops rescued four other captives in Katsina’s Fafu village and foiled a mass‑abduction attempt in Zurmi, Zamfara State, where three more victims were retrieved. The rescued individuals are receiving medical attention and have been reunited with their families. The missions were described as coordinated clearance and search‑and‑rescue efforts aimed at dismantling bandit and terrorist hideouts across the region.