Abuja, Nigeria — Nigerian Army troops have rescued a kidnapped victim found in chains and dismantled multiple terrorist hideouts in Katsina State during intensified operations under Operation CLEAN SWEEP.
The Army said the breakthrough followed sustained, intelligence-led offensives by troops of the 17 Brigade Strike Group and Quick Response Force, supported by elements of the 8 Division Special Forces.
According to the Army, the operation entered a decisive phase on its fourth day as troops launched coordinated clearance missions targeting terrorist strongholds around Tuga in Matazu Local Government Area.
Backed by real-time Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and precision air strikes from the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, troops cleared several settlements and disrupted terrorist activities in the area.
During the operation, security forces recovered 36 cattle, 280 sheep, and two donkeys believed to have been rustled by the terrorists, dealing a major blow to their economic networks.
Advancing deeper into the Fafu Forest, troops executed what the Army described as a “relentless incursion” strategy, combining aerial bombardments and ground assaults to destroy camps and concealed hideouts.
In one of the cleared locations, troops uncovered a hideout linked to a notorious terrorist leader, where kidnapped victims were held. Two bodies were recovered at the scene, while one captive, identified as Nura Yar’Adua, was rescued.
“He was found in chains and immediately given first aid before evacuation to the Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina for further treatment,” the Army said.
The military added that the operation led to the destruction of key logistics structures used by the террорист groups, with evidence of enemy casualties observed across targeted locations.
Reaffirming its commitment to restoring peace, the Nigerian Army urged the public to support ongoing operations with credible intelligence.
“The fight against insecurity is a collective responsibility, and we remain resolute in defending the nation’s territorial integrity,” the statement added.
The latest offensive highlights ongoing efforts by security forces to dismantle terrorist networks and restore stability across Nigeria’s North-West region.
