Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued 33 passengers abducted by terrorists in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The operation was carried out when security personnel received information on Saturday that commuters travelling through the Magazu area of Tsafe had been kidnapped.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, troops of Sector 2 worked alongside personnel of the Nigeria Police Force deployed in Tsafe to respond to the incident.
Danja said the security team quickly moved to the location and intercepted the terrorists as they were taking the victims to an unknown destination.
“Acting promptly, the troops mobilized to the location and made contact with the terrorists, who were already moving the abducted passengers to an unknown destination.
“The troops engaged the terrorists with effective fire, forcing them to abandon the victims and flee into adjoining bushes. The troops then secured and rescued all 33 abducted persons,” Danja said.
He added that troops subsequently launched follow-up operations in the area to track the fleeing suspects.
The Theatre Commander of Operation FANSAN YAMMA commended the troops for their swift response and professionalism, noting that the passengers were rescued without any casualty.
According to Danja, the commander reaffirmed the commitment of the operation to protecting residents, preventing terrorist activities and securing major transportation routes across the North-West.
The military also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and provide credible information on the activities and movements of terrorists and other criminal elements to security agencies.
