Troops of the Nigerian Army, 17 Brigade Strike Group/Quick Response Force, have rescued four kidnap victims in Fafu along the Matazu-Musawa axis of Katsina.

The army disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the offensive operation targeted a notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani, and his criminal network.

“On Tuesday, 16 June 2026, troops of 17 Brigade Strike Group/Quick Response Force  supported by troops of 8 Division Special Forces launched a deliberate offensive to clear terrorists’ hideouts in Fafu village along the Matazu-Musawa axis.

“Prior to the ground assault, the air component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA conducted Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions over the area, enabling troops to accurately identify and dominate the terrorists’ enclave,” the statement said.

The army said the troops engaged the terrorists with overwhelming firepower after making contact with them, forcing the criminals to flee and abandon their camp and captives.

“Subsequent exploitation of the camp led to the rescue of four abducted victims,” it stated.

According to the statement, the rescued hostages were immediately evacuated to the forward operating base in Matazu, where they were received by the general officer commanding 8 Division and commander of Sector 2, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, BP Koughna.

It added that some of the victims sustained gunshot wounds inflicted by their abductors while in captivity and received immediate medical attention before being transferred to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, for further treatment.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the victims were abducted on 14 April 2026 from Sabon Sara along the Matazu-Karaduwa Road and were held in captivity alongside the late Major General Rabe Abubakar (retd.) and his wife,” the army stated.

The army said troops remain on the trail of Kachalla Muhammadu Fulani and other members of the criminal gang.