Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA (JTF NW OPFY), have rescued 48 kidnapped victims after foiling a mass abduction during a daring terrorist attack on Magami village in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The operation, carried out in the early hours of Saturday, July 26, 2026, followed a distress call received by troops of Sector 2 that dozens of heavily armed terrorists, riding about 40 motorcycles, had stormed the community and abducted scores of residents.
According to the military, the attackers were attempting to whisk the captives into the bush while another group waited on the outskirts of the village with the motorcycles.
Responding swiftly, troops stormed the area and engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle, forcing them to abandon all 48 kidnapped victims and flee into the surrounding forest.
Despite the successful rescue, the attack claimed the life of one civilian, while two others sustained gunshot injuries. The injured victims were evacuated to the General Hospital in Kaura Namoda, where they are receiving treatment.
Following the operation, troops launched aggressive patrols across the area to prevent any further attacks and deny the fleeing terrorists freedom of movement.
Commending the courage and professionalism of the troops, the Theatre Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property across the North-West. It also urged residents to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies to sustain ongoing operations against terrorist groups in the region.
