Troops of the Nigerian Army have intensified their offensive against bandits in Katsina State, storming the hideouts of a notorious bandit leader and rescuing a woman who had been held captive for over two months.
The successful operation took place early Saturday morning in Machika and Dankolo villages of Sabuwa Local Government Area, as part of ongoing military efforts to dislodge criminal elements operating in Nigeria’s North-Western region.
The troops, acting on credible intelligence, launched a surprise raid on camps controlled by a feared bandit kingpin known as Kachalla Muritala. A fierce gunfight ensued, forcing the terrorists to flee into nearby mountainous terrain.
Military sources confirmed that three terrorists were neutralised during the confrontation. Remarkably, the army recorded no casualties on its side.
After dislodging the bandits, soldiers proceeded to dismantle their operational base. Several motorcycles, weapons, livestock, and other supplies were seized or destroyed to prevent the criminals from returning to the area.
The operation also led to a breakthrough in the Maigora axis, where the troops gained further ground. During a mop-up exercise, soldiers recovered more equipment and conducted thorough searches of the area.
One of the major highlights of the operation was the rescue of Mrs. Suliat Adam, a 40-year-old woman from Dankolo village, who had been abducted approximately 70 days ago along the Funtua–Zaria Road.
Mrs. Adam managed to escape from a bandit camp in Maigora following an earlier military assault on May 20, which weakened the terrorists’ position and created an opening for her to flee. She was found by troops and has since been reunited with her family.
Her rescue has brought joy to her community and renewed confidence in the military’s capacity to combat banditry and rescue victims.
Security experts say the operation signals a renewed commitment by the Nigerian Army to clear criminal enclaves in the region and reduce the rampant cases of kidnapping, rural attacks, and cattle rustling that have plagued Katsina and neighboring states.
Residents of Sabuwa LGA have long been terrorized by the activities of armed groups who often strike remote villages, stealing livestock and abducting locals for ransom. The continued presence of such camps in forested areas has made counterinsurgency operations both urgent and complex.
Saturday’s mission forms part of a wider military campaign aimed at dismantling such terrorist structures and restoring peace to vulnerable rural communities.
Authorities have urged locals to remain vigilant and continue sharing useful information with security operatives, assuring them that all reports will be treated with confidentiality and urgency.
The Nigerian Army has pledged to sustain the momentum of its clearance operations until the region is free from the grip of bandits.
