Katsina State governor, Dikko Radda, has hailed the troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the military high command for stopping terrorists from attacking and mass-kidnapping some residents in the State.

This is just as the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede charged the troops not to relent in dislodging all the marauding terrorists wrecking havoc in some parts of the country while reiterating his promise for their welfare.

The governor also lauded Department of State Services (DSS) and vigilantes for providing intelligence that led to neutralisation of 18 terrorists while several arms and rustled livestocks were recovered.

Daily Trust reports that troops of the Nigerian military attached with Operation Fasan YAMMA foiled terrorists’ attempt on Monday to attack and kidnap some residents of Gidan Iyado, Kakumi Ward, Bakori LGA of Katsina State.

Radda, in a statement by his commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mua’su, thanked the military its proactiveness, saying the government would continue to support the hardworking troops.

Explaining how the operation was carried out, Mua’su said the operation was intelligence-driven as the troops laid ambush on the terrorists when acting on credible information about planned mass abduction for ransom by the criminal group.

He said, “The operation was intelligence-driven. Acting on credible information about planned mass abduction for ransom by the criminal group, our forces laid ambush using operational assets and engaged the bandits.

“The criminals were led by one Alhaji Musa Duki, a former school headmaster turned bandit kingpin operating from Mununu Forest in Faskari LGA.

“The security forces recovered one G3 rifle, two AK-47 rifles, 14 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, three motorcycles, two cows and 94 sheep,” he disclosed.

The governor commended the gallantry of the security forces, and assured residents that a sustained covert operation is ongoing to track and neutralize the kingpin and dismantle his network completely.

“We will not relent until every forest and hideout is cleared. Efforts are ongoing by the Military and the DSS to identify other members of the network, locate their hideouts and thwart further kidnapping operations in Bakori, Faskari and neighbouring communities,” he declared.

Troops comb Sokoto, Kaduna, Kebbi forests, confiscate terrorists’ machine gun

Meanwhile, the military high command has vowed that its troops in the different theatres of operations would not relent in its bid to clear forests the terrorists are hibernating in order to ensure that citizens sleep with their two eyes closed.

The Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Michael Onoja, revealed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria had continued to sustain its ongoing efforts to counter terrorism, kidnapping and secessionist agitations across the country between 11 – 17 September 2026.

Maj.-Gen. Onoja, while providing update to Nigerians said the period witnessed intensified offensive operations, rescue missions and raids across the theatres of operations within the various geopolitical zones.

Specifically, troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA sustained operations against terrorism and kidnapping in Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and Sokoto States, all in the North West geopolitical zone of the country and recorded several decisive combat engagements.

On September 14th, 2026, troops conducted a clearance operation around Gumki village towards the Nigeria-Niger Border in Arewa Dandi LGA of Kebbi State, neutralised several terrorists and confiscated a machine gun, a rifle, ammunition, four motorcycles and other items.

The following day, on September 15th, 2026, troops intercepted terrorists who had gathered with the intent to attack communities in Matazu and Karaduwa areas of Katsina State and neutralised two terrorists.

That same day, troops rescued 10 abducted victims, comprising three men, seven women and a child, at Unguwan Rimi Village in Sabuwa LGA of Katsina State.

Troops also rescued 2 victims following terrorist attacks on communities at Kanan Maharba in Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto State, on 13 September 2026.

Several successful rescue operations were also recorded during the period.

Before then, particularly on 11th September, 2026, troops rescued traders who were abducted along the Ruwan Godiya-Mobai Road in Faskari LGA of Katsina State.

Troops also rescued three kidnap victims at Danhonu 2 Community in Chikun LGA of Kaduna State.

On the same day, troops intercepted two victims and their child who had escaped their captors along the Alikere-Yankara Road in Faskari LGA of Katsina State.

Also, on September 17th, 2026, troops rescued three kidnap victims at Gidan Gulbi Village in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State.

Earlier on September 10th, 2026, troops arrested two suspected terrorist logistics suppliers at Dogon Dawa in Birni Gwari LGA of Kaduna State.

Both suspects had earlier been identified as terrorist collaborators and placed on counter-terrorism wanted list since June 2026.

On September 11th, 2026, troops raided a suspected Lakurawa hideout in Kware Town, Sokoto State.

Between 15 – 17 September 2026, troops arrested two accomplices of a notorious terrorist kingpin at Danmusa LGA of Katsina State.

Similarly, troops arrested a collaborator and an informant linked to the same kingpin network at Matazu LGA of Katsina State.

Borno town Chief Imam rescued after 6 months in captivity

Meanwhile, in the North East geopolitical zone, troops of the military attached Operation HADIN KAI sustained operations against terrorism in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

The troops, with the support of the military high command, achieved notable successes through coordinated raids and interdiction operations.

On September 13th, 2026, troops stormed a suspected kidnappers’ hideout around Soktu Hill in Song LGA of Adamawa State.

Troops arrested six suspected members of a notorious kidnap syndicate operating within the Soktu, Dumne and Maigero areas, who confessed to having kidnapped more than seven victims and killing those who failed to meet ransom demands.

During the operation between September 12th and 13th, 2026, troops rescued a total of 14 abductees around the Armuda and Gava areas of Gwoza LGA of Borno State.

Among those rescued were Malam Sadiq, the Chief Imam of Ngoshe town who had been abducted during an attack on March 3, 2026.

Similarly, from September 15th to 17th, 2026, troops intercepted a woman who had escaped captivity after five months alongside two abducted minors who had also been held for six months at Suyaka Camp on the Mandara Mountains, in Gwoza LGA of Borno State.

Troops also liberated two family members along the Gwoza-Limankara Road on 11 September 2026. In another development, a repentant terrorist surrendered with an AK-47 rifle, a hand grenade and an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Benisheikh in Kaga LGA on 13 September 2026.

In the same vein, two terrorists’ fighters from Bula Daloye enclave surrendered to troops in Bama LGA of Borno State on September 17th, 2026 with three AK-47 rifles and other weapons.

In related operations, troops arrested suspected terrorist collaborators, informants and spies across the theatre.

Specifically, troops arrested a suspect believed to be providing terrorists with information on military convoy movements at Kadauri in Kaga LGA of Borno State on 11 September 2026.

Troops also arrested a suspected terrorists along the Dikwa-Ajiri Main Supply Route (MSR) on 15 September 2026, who was planning to plant an IED around the location of a military outpost.

On September 12th, 2026, troops arrested two suspected collaborators at Mongonu LGA of Borno State.

In Kukawa town, troops arrested a suspect who had earlier fled to join terrorists before returning to visit his family.

Additionally, a collaborator at Dikwa town in Dikwa LGA of Borno State was arrested by troops on September 16th 2026 for being suspected to be mobilising females for the emplacement of IED at military locations.

Terrorists’ IEDs cleared in Borgu, Kaiama

Further checks showed that troops of Operation Savannah Shield operating in the North Central zone of the country sustained offensive operations against terrorism and kidnapping across Kwara and Niger States.

On September 12th, 2026, troops at the Kpada/Lade District border in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, neutralised three terrorists and confiscated firearms.

A total of 35 rustled cattle were also recorded during the operation and handed over to the Nigeria Police.

On September 14th, 2026, troops on patrol from Dekara towards Gidan Zana and Sabon Gida in Borgu LGA of Niger State, neutralised two terrorists and confiscated a machine gun with ammunition.

In the most significant success of the period, troops on September 15th, 2026 made contact with terrorists at Muchiya Village in Rafi LGA of Niger State, forcing them to abandon their victims.

Troops rescued 22 kidnap victims who were reunited with their families and confiscated three motorcycles.

According to the military, its troops also recorded multiple successful clearance operations of Impoverished Explosive Devices (IEDs) within Borgu and Kaiama LGAs of Niger and Kwara States between September 12th to 17th, 2026.

A total of 12 devices were safely defused including nine found along MSR between Machan-Gyada and Masaka Villages, and all affected roads were subsequently declared safe for vehicular movement.

On September 13th, 2026, troops of the military in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and local security groups arrested four suspects at Pissa in Borgu LGA of Niger State, including two persons impersonating military and police personnel.

The suspects confessed to being sent by terrorist leaders in Sokoto and Katsina States to spy on troop positions and recover firearms.

Also in the North Central troops of Operation WHIRL STROKE sustained operations against kidnapping and armed criminality in Benue, Kogi and Taraba States.

On September 12th, 2026, troops received four suspects earlier arrested in Kogi State, confirmed to be informants and logistics suppliers to terrorists operating around the Asinwe and Isanlu Areas.

They included two charcoal dealers who confessed to aiding terrorists in purchasing logistics.

The other confessed to facilitating multiple kidnap operations and receiving a share of ransom payments running into millions of naira.

On September 14th, 2026, troops responded to a distress call along the Anpkechi-Ogobia Road in Ohimini LGA of Benue State, took into custody an abandoned vehicle and rescued one passenger.

The senior military officer told journalists that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the perpetrators.

However, on September 15th, 2026, troops arrested a suspect identified as the second-in-command to a wanted criminal gang leader at Abako Village in Katsina-Ala LGA of Benue State.

Also, on September 16th, 2026, troops intercepted and arrested six suspects along the Wukari-Makurdi Road in Taraba State, recovering ammunition.

On the same day, troops conducted a cordon and search operation within the forests in Adavi LGA of Kogi State, and discovered ammunition in suspected terrorist hideouts.

You’re doing well, Defence Chief tells troops

Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatunbosun Oluyede, GCOR, AFM, has applauded the courage, professionalism and sacrifice of troops across all theatres of operations.

The top military officer said the action of troops for neutralising terrorists, rescuing scores of kidnapped and abducted citizens, dismantling logistics and informant networks, and dislodging economic saboteurs and secessionist elements from their hideouts is commendable.

He extended his heartfelt commiseration to victims who suffered injury or hardship during these encounters, and also lauded the seamless collaboration between troops and other security agencies, and other stakeholders, whose efforts continue to narrow the operating space available to criminal and terrorist elements nationwide.

The CDS further commended the media for their continued fair and balanced coverage of military operations, and calls on all Nigerians, traditional institutions and community leaders to sustain their partnership with troops by providing timely and credible information.

He noted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is determined to press forward with these operations until lasting peace, security and stability are achieved across every corner of the country. (Daily Trust)