Troops Rescue Abductee, Arrest Four Suspected Drug Peddlers In Kebbi

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation Fansan Yamma, have rescued a kidnapped victim, recovered 18 rustled cattle, and arrested four suspected drug peddlers during separate operations in Kebbi State.

The operations, conducted on Sunday, October 18, 2026, targeted suspected terrorists and drug trafficking activities in the Danko-Wasagu and Maiyama Local Government Areas of the state.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Media Information Officer of Operation Fansan Yamma, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said the troops, working with local vigilantes, responded to a distress call following an invasion of Rambo village in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area by suspected terrorists.

He said the troops mobilised to the community, engaged the suspected terrorists in a firefight, and successfully rescued a 40-year-old resident, identified as Suleiman Maiyaki Ikara.

The operation also led to the recovery of 18 rustled cattle, which, alongside the rescued victim, were handed over to the District Head of Rambo village for further action.

In a separate operation on the same day, troops of Sector 2, in collaboration with personnel of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), raided suspected drug trafficking locations in Dakin Kowa, Karaye and Gubba communities in Maiyama Local Government Area.

According to the statement, the joint operation resulted in the arrest of four suspects and the recovery of substances suspected to be illicit drugs.

The suspects and recovered substances have been handed over to the NDLEA Command in Maiyama for further investigation and necessary action.

The Joint Task Force reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining offensive operations against terrorists and other criminal elements across its area of responsibility.

It also appreciated the continued cooperation of local communities and urged residents to provide timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity.