Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have rescued an abducted traditional ruler, Mubarak Sharin, and killed a bandit during a series of offensives against terrorists in Katsina.
Sharin was successfully rescued after troops pursued his abductors and engaged them in a gun battle forcing assailants to flee, one of them seas, and also abandon their captive while fleeing, after which the abductees were rescued.
Sharin, a district Head of Farin Hawa Village, was said to have now reunited with his family without injuries following the operation.
It was gathered that the operations were carried out yesterday in Danmusa, Dutsinma and Malumfashi Local Government Areas, as disclosed by a military source on Friday.
He said that troops acted swiftly on intelligence, tracked the abductors and engaged them decisively, leading to the rescue of the district head unharmed, adding that during the encounter, one of the bandits was killed, while the remaining members of the gang escaped with suspected gunshot wounds.
In another operation, troops on a fighting patrol intercepted fleeing terrorists after coming under attack and responded with superior firepower, forcing the insurgents to retreat and abandon their mission.
After the gun battle, troops recovered one AK-47 rifle, a magazine containing eight rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and two motorcycles believed to have been used by the terrorists.
According to the military source, these operations formed part of a wider offensive by troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA against terrorist elements operating across the North-West region.
The source added that the latest successes underscore the sustained pressure being mounted against terrorist groups,
He noted that troops remain committed to protecting communities and preventing further attacks by the terrorists.