Troops rescue 11 kidnapped victims in two separate operations in Kebbi

Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma have rescued 11 kidnapped victims during two separate operations in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.The victims were rescued on October 30 and 31, 2026, following encounters between troops and suspected bandits in the area.The spokesman for the 8 Division, Sokoto, Lt. Col. Olaniyi Osoba, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.Osoba said the first operation followed a distress call reporting that armed bandits had blocked a road leading to Ribah town and attempted to invade the community.He said troops deployed to the area discovered that some residents had been abducted, while motorcycles were abandoned at the scene.According to him, the troops pursued the attackers and engaged them in a gun battle, forcing them to flee and abandon seven kidnapped victims.The rescued victims were identified as Sa’adu Bala, Dantani Yahyi, Nura Musa, Nasiru Muhammad, Abdulakeem Abubakar, Abdulahi Maikudi and Zaki Gom.The military said the seven victims had been reunited with their families.In a separate operation around Wasagu, Osoba said troops conducting routine patrols came under attack by suspected terrorists but repelled the assault, forcing the attackers to abandon four kidnapped victims.He said the victims had been abducted from their farms in Wasagu village before the troops intervened.The four rescued victims were identified as Lawali Ali, Samaila Shuaibu, Kasimu Shuaibu and Aliyu Bala, all residents of Wasagu village.They were subsequently handed over to the community head.The military reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining operations against bandits and other criminal elements, assuring residents of continued efforts to protect lives and property.