Troops rescue 48 abducted villagers after fierce gun battle in Zamfara

Nkereuwem Effiong

Troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, the Joint Task Force (North-West), have rescued 48 kidnapped victims following a gun battle with terrorists who attacked Magami village in the Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The military disclosed the operation in a statement issued on Sunday by Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, Media Information Officer for Operation FANSAN YAMMA.

According to the military, troops of Sector 2 launched the rescue operation in the early hours of Saturday, 26 July 2026, after receiving a distress call that a large group of heavily armed terrorists, riding roughly 40 motorcycles, had invaded the community. The bandits rounded up several residents to march them into the bush, while an auxiliary group waited on the outskirts with the motorcycles.

Upon arriving at the scene, troops immediately engaged the attackers in a fierce firefight, forcing them to abandon their captives and flee into the surrounding bush. All 48 abducted civilians were successfully rescued.

Regrettably, one civilian was killed during the attack, while two others sustained gunshot injuries. The wounded were evacuated to the General Hospital in Kaura Namoda, where they are currently receiving medical treatment.

Following the rescue, troops initiated aggressive patrols throughout the area to prevent further incursions. The Theatre Command commended the gallantry and professionalism of the personnel involved, reassuring residents of the North-West of its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property, while urging the public to continue providing timely intelligence to security agencies.

Zamfara remains one of the states hardest hit by banditry and mass abductions in Nigeria’s North-West region. Operation FANSAN YAMMA is part of the military’s ongoing joint efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, and violent crime across the area.

Operation FANSAN YAMMA represents an ongoing joint military initiative designed to suppress terrorism, banditry, and allied violent crimes in the North-West region, following a recent escalation in security agency counter-offensives.