Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have killed eight suspected terrorists and rescued three kidnap victims in coordinated operations in Katsina, Kaduna and Zamfara.

The operations also led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, three locally fabricated guns, three motorcycles, cutlasses and assorted charms. This was disclosed in a statement on Monday.

On Saturday, troops of Sector One responded to a distress call from farmers at Machika Dam in Sabuwa council area of Katsina, reporting terrorist activities in the area and engaged the terrorists in a gun battle, killing two, while others fled.

The troops rescued a 42-year-old kidnap victim, Mr Suleiman Umar, during the operation, and recovered an AK-47 rifle with a magazine containing ammunition, as well as a motorcycle.

The statement said that in another operation on the same day, troops of Sector One, working with the Civilian Joint Task Force, foiled a terrorist ambush along Ungwan Iya in Igabi council area of Kaduna, killing six suspected terrorists.

The troops had responded to a distress call reporting an attack by suspected armed terrorists at Ungwan Mallami, where two villagers had been abducted.

According to the statement, the troops came under attack while trailing the fleeing terrorists but responded swiftly with superior firepower, killing six, while others escaped. The operation also led to the recovery of three locally fabricated guns, two motorcycles, cutlasses and assorted charms.

In a related development, troops of Sector Two rescued two kidnap victims in Bagega, Anka council area of Zamfara, on Sunday. The victims are Shehu Chete, 40, and Bugu Bedi, 25, both indigenes of Kebbi.

The troops, while conducting surveillance operations in the area, observed the activities of suspected terrorists and immediately deployed a fighting patrol. The terrorists fled on sighting the troops, abandoning the two victims, who were subsequently rescued.

The victims were evacuated to Bagega Clinic for medical attention before being moved to the military base for further assessment and eventual reunion with their families.

(NAN)