Troops of Sector 2, Joint Task Force North West under Operation FANSAN YAMMA have successfully foiled multiple kidnap attempts in Zamfara State, including the rescue of the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Dr. Aminu Yusuf.
The operation followed a distress call received in the early hours of Tuesday over an attack by suspected terrorists around Tsohon Tasha Street in Kaura Namoda Local Government Area.
The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said the gunmen stormed the rector’s residence, where they killed his private security guard and injured another resident before attempting to kidnap Dr. Yusuf and members of his family.
According to him, troops moved to the scene without delay and engaged the attackers in a gun battle. The terrorists were overwhelmed by the troops’ superior firepower and fled the area, abandoning their victims.
News gathered that the rector and his family were rescued safely without sustaining any injuries.
In another operation carried out later the same day, troops on night patrol responded to a separate distress call from Tungan Dorawa community in Barkeji Village following an attempted kidnap by suspected terrorists.
Despite the challenging terrain, the security team pursued the fleeing attackers, engaged them and successfully stopped the abduction.
The troops also confronted another group of terrorists in the same community who had attempted to kidnap a prominent businessman, Alhaji Azaria. Their swift response forced the attackers to abandon the operation and escape.
As a result of the intervention, Alhaji Azaria and 21 other residents who had been abducted from nearby homes were rescued.
The operation also led to the arrest of a suspected terrorist informant identified as 45 year old Falalu Yusuf, who is believed to have assisted the attackers. He has since been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Operation FANSAN YAMMA commended the courage, vigilance and professionalism displayed by the troops during the operations, while reaffirming its determination to restore lasting peace and strengthen security across Zamfara State and the wider North West region.
