Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation FANSAN YANMA have rescued Mrs. Abubakar, the wife of late retired Major General Rabe Abubakar, after a fierce encounter with armed bandits in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Security sources disclosed the development on Monday night, saying the rescue followed intelligence-driven operations launched by the military after reports emerged that the widow of the late senior military officer had been abducted by suspected bandits.
According to the sources, the operation formed part of Operation CLEAN SWEEP III, an ongoing military offensive targeting criminal groups operating in parts of Katsina State and neighbouring areas.
The troops were said to have intensified search-and-rescue efforts across Matazu and surrounding communities after receiving information about the abduction.
During the operation, soldiers reportedly tracked the kidnappers to Tunga village, where they engaged the armed men in a gun battle.
A military source involved in the operation said the pressure mounted by the advancing troops forced the bandits to abandon their captive and flee from the area.
“The bandits shot her and fled when we made contact at Tunga village. We have rescued Mrs. Abubakar. She is bleeding. We have given her first aid and are moving her for urgent medical attention,” the source said.
The source did not disclose the extent of the injuries sustained by Mrs. Abubakar but confirmed that she was immediately stabilised by military personnel before being evacuated to a medical facility for further treatment.
It was also not immediately clear when exactly she was abducted or whether any ransom demand had been made before the rescue operation.
The successful operation has been seen as another breakthrough in the ongoing military campaign against banditry and kidnapping in the North-West region.
Katsina State, the home state of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has remained one of the states worst affected by bandit attacks in recent years. Armed groups operating in forests spanning Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states have carried out frequent attacks on communities, highways and villages.
The criminals are often involved in mass kidnappings, cattle rustling, killings and extortion of residents. Their activities have displaced thousands of people and disrupted farming activities, worsening humanitarian and economic challenges in the affected areas.
To tackle the situation, the military has sustained several operations aimed at dismantling bandit camps and restoring normalcy to troubled communities. Operation FANSAN YANMA is one of the key security operations established to confront armed groups terrorising parts of the North-West.
In recent months, troops have intensified air and ground offensives based on intelligence gathered from local communities and other security channels. Military authorities have repeatedly maintained that the operations are yielding positive results, although sporadic attacks continue in some areas.
The rescue of Mrs. Abubakar is particularly significant because of her connection to the late Major General Rabe Abubakar, a respected senior officer who served the Nigerian Army for decades before his retirement.
General Abubakar was widely regarded as a disciplined officer who contributed to national security during his years in service. His death was mourned by colleagues, associates and many Nigerians who recognised his role in the defence of the country.
The attack on his family has once again highlighted the growing concern that no segment of society has been spared from the insecurity affecting parts of Nigeria.
Residents in Katsina and neighbouring states have repeatedly appealed to the Federal Government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure rural communities, many of which remain vulnerable to attacks due to their proximity to forests used as hideouts by criminal groups.
While the rescue has brought relief to the family of the late general, many Nigerians continue to hope that similar efforts will lead to the safe return of other victims still being held by kidnappers across the country.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army had yet to issue an official statement on the operation. However, security sources expressed optimism that ongoing offensives under Operation CLEAN SWEEP III would further weaken the activities of bandit groups in the region.