Troops Rescue 22 Kidnap Victims, Foil Abduction Attempts in Sokoto
The Nigerian military has rescued 22 kidnapped victims and thwarted separate abduction attempts in Sabon Birni and Isa Local Government Areas of Sokoto State.
The successful operations were carried out by troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, following intelligence reports and distress calls from affected communities on June 18, 2026.
According to the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, terrorists had blocked the Sabon Birni–Shinkafi Road at Kura Mota Village, attacking two civilian vehicles and abducting several passengers.
Although one civilian lost his life during the attack, troops swiftly mobilized to the area and launched a coordinated pursuit operation backed by aerial surveillance. The sustained pressure forced the terrorists to abandon their captives and flee, leading to the rescue of 17 kidnapped passengers.
In a separate incident in Chohi Village, Isa Local Government Area, armed terrorists attempted to abduct farmers working on their farmlands. Troops responded promptly to a distress call and pursued the attackers, successfully rescuing five farmers who were later reunited with their families.
The military also conducted confidence-building patrols in nearby communities, including Gidan Rana and Gidan Sale villages, to reassure residents and deter further attacks.
Lieutenant Colonel Danja said the operations demonstrate the commitment of Operation FANSAN YAMMA to protecting lives and property, securing vulnerable communities, and creating a safe environment for citizens to carry out their daily activities without fear.
Residents of the affected areas have commended the intervention while calling for sustained military presence to strengthen security along major roads and farming communities vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
