Troops under Operation FANSAN YAMMA have rescued three kidnapped residents in Kaduna State after mounting a rapid pursuit of armed bandits who attacked Kushere Village in the early hours of Tuesday. According to an operational report cited by multiple local media outlets, the assailants stormed the community and abducted three villagers before troops from the Forward Operating Base in Dokan Karji were mobilised in response to a distress call.
The victims were identified as Abdullahi, Saidu Julfe and Kamilu Joddi. The report said soldiers received the alert at about 1:00 a.m. and moved swiftly to the scene, but by the time they arrived, the kidnappers had already fled with the captives toward the Kafin Gora axis. Troops then launched a hot pursuit, setting the stage for an exchange of fire with the fleeing gunmen.
Military sources said the pressure mounted by the pursuing troops forced the bandits to abandon the victims and retreat. All three captives were rescued alive during the operation, while the attackers escaped under fire. The report described the action as another example of the military’s continuing offensive posture against kidnappers and other armed groups operating across parts of the North-West and North-Central.
The latest rescue comes amid sustained operations by Operation FANSAN YAMMA, which has recorded several similar interventions in recent months in Kaduna and neighbouring states. The command has repeatedly said its troops remain on high alert despite what it often describes as a generally calm but unpredictable security situation in parts of its area of responsibility.
Kaduna remains one of the states most affected by banditry and kidnappings, with rural communities frequently targeted in night raids. Although security forces have claimed a series of tactical successes, attacks and abductions continue to underscore the fragility of security in many parts of the state. That broader context has made each successful rescue operation significant, particularly for communities living under the constant threat of armed incursions.
For the military, Tuesday’s operation is being presented as a morale booster and proof of improved responsiveness to emergency alerts from vulnerable communities. The operational report said troop morale and combat efficiency remain high, even as security conditions in the wider area remain fluid.
