33 abducted Zamfara passengers regain freedom

Blessing Fali

Thirtythree passengers abducted by terrorists in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State have regained their freedom following a swift operation by troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

The victims were reportedly abducted while travelling through the Magazu area of Tsafe Local Government Area on Saturday.

According to the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, troops received information about the abduction and immediately mobilised to the area in an effort to rescue the passengers before they could be moved to another location.

The troops reportedly made contact with the terrorists while the abductors were attempting to move the victims to an unknown destination.

A gun battle subsequently ensued between the security forces and the terrorists.

The sustained pressure from the troops forced the terrorists to abandon the abducted passengers and flee into nearby bushes.

The security personnel then secured the area and successfully rescued all 33 victims.

Danja said the operation was conducted without any reported casualties among the rescued passengers or the security personnel involved.

He added that troops subsequently commenced further operations in the area in an attempt to locate and apprehend the fleeing terrorists.

The military spokesman said the operation demonstrated the commitment of security forces to protecting civilians and preventing terrorists and bandits from freely operating along major transportation routes in the North-West.

He also said troops would continue to intensify operations aimed at denying criminal elements freedom of movement and safeguarding communities and travellers across the region.

The rescue comes amid continuing security concerns in Zamfara State, where armed groups have repeatedly targeted communities, motorists and travellers.

The state’s major highways and rural roads have remained vulnerable to attacks, with criminals often taking advantage of difficult terrain and isolated routes to ambush travellers and abduct passengers.

The latest incident has again highlighted the security challenges faced by commuters travelling through parts of Zamfara and other states in the North-West.

The rescue also comes shortly after another operation in July in which the Zamfara State Police Command rescued at least 11 travellers who had been abducted during a bandit attack along the Gummi-Sokoto Road.

In that incident, the victims were reportedly travelling in a trailer carrying vegetables and passengers when gunmen attacked the vehicle. The attack caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle and veer off the road, after which the passengers were abducted.

The repeated attacks on travellers have raised concerns over the safety of road transportation in the region and the need for sustained security operations along major highways.

For the latest Zamfara incident, however, the intervention of the security forces prevented the abductors from successfully taking the 33 passengers to an unknown location.

The military has continued to urge members of the public to provide timely and credible information about the movements of suspected terrorists and other criminal groups to security agencies.

Security agencies have also maintained that cooperation between communities, the police and the military remains important in preventing kidnappings and rescuing victims.

Following the latest operation, troops have continued efforts to track the terrorists who escaped into the surrounding bushes.

The successful rescue of the 33 passengers is expected to provide relief to their families and communities, while security forces continue their operations to apprehend those responsible for the abduction.

Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the rescued passengers or whether any ransom was paid for their release.

The operation is part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to protect civilians, secure major routes and restore confidence among travellers in Zamfara and other parts of the North-West.

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33 abducted Zamfara passengers regain freedom

Blessing Fali

Thirty-three passengers abducted by terrorists in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State have regained their freedom following a swift operation by troops of the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

The victims were reportedly abducted while travelling through the Magazu area of Tsafe Local Government Area on Saturday.

According to the Media Information Officer of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, troops received information about the abduction and immediately mobilised to the area in an effort to rescue the passengers before they could be moved to another location.

The troops reportedly made contact with the terrorists while the abductors were attempting to move the victims to an unknown destination.

A gun battle subsequently ensued between the security forces and the terrorists.

The sustained pressure from the troops forced the terrorists to abandon the abducted passengers and flee into nearby bushes.

The security personnel then secured the area and successfully rescued all 33 victims.

Danja said the operation was conducted without any reported casualties among the rescued passengers or the security personnel involved.

He added that troops subsequently commenced further operations in the area in an attempt to locate and apprehend the fleeing terrorists.

The military spokesman said the operation demonstrated the commitment of security forces to protecting civilians and preventing terrorists and bandits from freely operating along major transportation routes in the North-West.

He also said troops would continue to intensify operations aimed at denying criminal elements freedom of movement and safeguarding communities and travellers across the region.

The rescue comes amid continuing security concerns in Zamfara State, where armed groups have repeatedly targeted communities, motorists and travellers.

The state’s major highways and rural roads have remained vulnerable to attacks, with criminals often taking advantage of difficult terrain and isolated routes to ambush travellers and abduct passengers.

The latest incident has again highlighted the security challenges faced by commuters travelling through parts of Zamfara and other states in the North-West.

The rescue also comes shortly after another operation in July in which the Zamfara State Police Command rescued at least 11 travellers who had been abducted during a bandit attack along the Gummi-Sokoto Road.

In that incident, the victims were reportedly travelling in a trailer carrying vegetables and passengers when gunmen attacked the vehicle. The attack caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle and veer off the road, after which the passengers were abducted.

The repeated attacks on travellers have raised concerns over the safety of road transportation in the region and the need for sustained security operations along major highways.

For the latest Zamfara incident, however, the intervention of the security forces prevented the abductors from successfully taking the 33 passengers to an unknown location.

The military has continued to urge members of the public to provide timely and credible information about the movements of suspected terrorists and other criminal groups to security agencies.

Security agencies have also maintained that cooperation between communities, the police and the military remains important in preventing kidnappings and rescuing victims.

Following the latest operation, troops have continued efforts to track the terrorists who escaped into the surrounding bushes.

The successful rescue of the 33 passengers is expected to provide relief to their families and communities, while security forces continue their operations to apprehend those responsible for the abduction.

Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the rescued passengers or whether any ransom was paid for their release.

The operation is part of ongoing efforts by security agencies to protect civilians, secure major routes and restore confidence among travellers in Zamfara and other parts of the North-West.